Challenge
Reducing ozone and other Particulate matter in the environment
Not only is Ozone bad for the environment, it is a threat to human health as well. Ozone exposure reduces lung function and causes respiratory symptoms, such as coughing and shortness of breath. Ozone exposure also aggravates asthma and lung diseases such as emphysema leading to increased medication use, hospital admissions, and emergency department visits. Exposure to ozone may also increase the risk of premature mortality from respiratory causes. Short-term exposure to ozone is also associated with increased total non-accidental mortality, which includes deaths from respiratory causes.
Winds can carry particulates and gases like ozone and carbon monoxide far away from the source. When the pollutants settle on ground or water, they damage the natural and built environments through acid rain. Consequently lakes, streams, and other bodies of water become acidic. This shifts the nutrient balance in coastal waters and the soil, damaging forests and farm crops and threatening biodiversity.