When people usually think about smog, they picture a thick brown layer over Los Angeles. They don't usually think of a hot midwest summer day with a lots of sunshine and a hazy blue sky. Unfortunately, ground-level ozone reaches unhealthy levels in urban areas throughout the midwest. In northwest Indiana, unhealthy ground-level ozone concentrations are regularly a problem during summer months. Ground-level ozone pollution is unhealthy for everyone and is especially harmful to people with lung disease and asthma.
Children are especially susceptible to the effects of smog.
Ozone Action Days are a voluntary educational program that provides a much needed health alert for the public. Although, by itself, ozone cannot be seen or tasted, it can irritate lungs and make breathing difficult. The urban haze that we call smog contains several pollutants that react to form ozone. Most of these pollutants come from automobiles. Large factories also account for a portion of the emissions.