They don't usually think of a Midwest summer day, typically hazy, sunny and hot. The primary source of these are automobiles and industrial emissions. High ozone levels pose significant health risks to the elderly and young children, but even healthy adults may be affected. Here in Kentuckiana, ground-level ozone is a particular problem during the afternoons and early evenings between June and September. Most of the pollutants that form ozone come from cars.
Large factories account for another portion of the emissions.
Small businesses such as printing plants, service stations, and auto body shops, and people using lawn mowers, paints, and cleaning solvents account for another portion of the emissions. High ground-level ozone directly impacts our health and our economy. When ozone is breathed into the body, it reacts with the lung tissue. It can harm breathing passages, making it more difficult for the lungs to work. It also can cause eye and throat irritation and cause a greater susceptibility to infection.