and i quote from a science book: (my emphasis in caps)
"Ozone is a COLORLESS gas formed from a reaction between motor vehicle emissions and sunlight. it is the main component of smog."
so yes, it is important to try to drive less on ozone action days, or whatever they're called where you live. also, you can't SEE ozone. therefore, the alerts are necessary.
"The greater the intensity of sunlight and the warmer the day, the larger amount of ozone produced." however, since it is possible to calculate ozone by knowing the number of cars on the road and the temperature, etc., actual measurements don't need to be taken. this doesn't make them any less accurate, though.
it goes on to say ozone's effects:
"Respiratory irritant, aggravates asthma and other lung and heart diseases, impairs lung functions. Ozone is toxic to plants and corrodes materials."
additionally, it states that "chronic exposure to ozone causes PERMANENT LUNG DAMAGE, including stiffening of the wall of the lung, normally associated with aging... [exposure to ozone] CAN BE AS DANGEROUS TO ONE'S HEALTH AS SMOKING."
sorry, it just pisses me off when scientists try to look out for the public's health and in return they are met with speculation by the uneducated public. and yes, there are more ozone days because guess what? the earth is getting warmer! it is a scientific fact. (there are more cars everyday on the road; so, more heat + more cars = more days we need to stay inside because of ozone.) that's another bit of science people still don't get.
"Ozone is a COLORLESS gas formed from a reaction between motor vehicle emissions and sunlight. it is the main component of smog."
so yes, it is important to try to drive less on ozone action days, or whatever they're called where you live. also, you can't SEE ozone. therefore, the alerts are necessary.
"The greater the intensity of sunlight and the warmer the day, the larger amount of ozone produced." however, since it is possible to calculate ozone by knowing the number of cars on the road and the temperature, etc., actual measurements don't need to be taken. this doesn't make them any less accurate, though.
it goes on to say ozone's effects:
"Respiratory irritant, aggravates asthma and other lung and heart diseases, impairs lung functions. Ozone is toxic to plants and corrodes materials."
additionally, it states that "chronic exposure to ozone causes PERMANENT LUNG DAMAGE, including stiffening of the wall of the lung, normally associated with aging... [exposure to ozone] CAN BE AS DANGEROUS TO ONE'S HEALTH AS SMOKING."
sorry, it just pisses me off when scientists try to look out for the public's health and in return they are met with speculation by the uneducated public. and yes, there are more ozone days because guess what? the earth is getting warmer! it is a scientific fact. (there are more cars everyday on the road; so, more heat + more cars = more days we need to stay inside because of ozone.) that's another bit of science people still don't get.