There have been studies where healthy adults are exposed to various levels of ozone. The results show that even healthy adults can experience decreased function of their lungs when exposed to ozone. People who suffer from lung diseases like emphysema, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and colds have even more trouble breathing when the air is polluted. These effects can be worse in children, the elderly and exercising adults. Click here to see how healthy adults are affected by ozone.
Children often play outside during hot, muggy summer afternoons.
Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe more rapidly and inhale more air pollution per pound of body weight than adults. On days when ozone smog levels are high, these factors put children at increased risk for respiratory problems. Adults breathe about 20,000 times each day. During exercise or strenuous work, we breathe more often and draw air more deeply into the lungs. When we exercise heavily, we may increase our intake of air by as much as 10 times our level at rest.