How it Affects the Atlanta Region Pt. But on certain days in our area, the adverse consequences of air pollution may outweigh the benefits of outdoor exercise. Ground-level ozone is the pollutant in the Atlanta area that is considered to be most harmful in terms of respiratory health and is also the most difficult to control. People most at risk to high ozone levels are those with respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Children and senior citizens are usually cited among those most at risk.
Ozone can also reduce the body's resistance to colds and pneumonia.
But high ozone levels can also affect health y individuals, especially those who exercise outdoors. Ozone irritates the mucous membranes of the respiratory system and cyclists who exercise during high ozone conditions are exposed to a much higher rate of ingestion due to deeper and more rapid breathing. Symptoms may include coughing, choking, breathing difficulty, headaches, eye irritation and other effects. Ozone in the stratosphere is naturally occurring and necessary for the health of the planet, but ground level ozone is largely a byproduct of human activity and is Atlanta's most serious air pollutant. These compounds, called ozone precursors, may come from many sources, but in Atlanta, vehicle emissions are the largest single source of air pollution.