The health threat from CO is most serious for those who suffer from cardiovascular disease. At higher levels of exposure, healthy individuals are also affected. Visual impairment, reduced work capacity, reduced manual dexterity, poor learning ability, and difficulty in performing complex tasks are all associated with exposure to elevated CO levels.
Automobiles are a large source of emissions of carbon monoxide.
Ozone occurs naturally in the stratosphere and provides a protective layer high above the earth. At ground-level, however, it is the prime ingredient of smog. Repeated exposures to ozone can make people more susceptible to respiratory infection and lung inflammation, and can aggravate preexisting respiratory diseases such as asthma. Other health effects attributed to short-term exposures to ozone, generally while individuals are engaged in moderate or heavy exertion, include significant decreases in lung function and increased respiratory symptoms such as chest pain and cough. Children active outdoors during the summer when ozone levels are at their highest are most at risk of experiencing such effects.