Ozone

Ground-level ozone isn’t emitted by any particular human activity. Ozone forms through the combination of nitric oxides (NO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. That’s why you usually see higher concentrations of ground-level ozone during summer. Some of the major sources of NO_x and VOCs include industrial facilities and electric utilities, vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents.

Ozone is commonly used as an industrial disinfectant or sterilizing agent. It is used extensively in the food and beverage industry, for water treatment, odor control, and the sterilization of medical environments. Recently it’s also been popular to sterilize areas to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 during the global pandemic. You can read more about this in our blog.

Ozone can be both ‘good’ and ‘bad’. At ground level, ‘bad’ ozone is corrosive, very toxic, and a strong oxidant that is harmful to humans and other organisms. It poses a significant health risk to workers and the community, especially those with asthma. Excessive exposure to ground-level ozone can:

In nature, ground-level ozone can also damage crops, trees, and other vegetation and is a primary component of smog.

Health effects from ozone inhalation often occur without any noticeable signs. Understanding and controlling ozone levels is essential for protecting workers during industrial applications while safeguarding the health of the surrounding community. Aeroqual offers a range of fixed and portable monitoring instruments for the precise measurement of ground-level ozone pollution in real-time.