The Bay Area fails to meet either the State or Federal standards for O3. In addition, the EPA has recently determined that the Federal standard is inadequate to protect our health, and that there may be NO level at which O3 is safe. CO is also deadly, and is a popular method of committing suicide. CO robs the body of oxygen. Small doses produce headaches and sleepiness, but can be life-threatening to those with heart disease.
Larger doses affect everyone's vision, alertness, and manual coordination.
Thus, it is undoubtedly the cause of some automobile accidents. In pregnant women, it may cause mental and physical birth defects. The Bay Area also fails to meet the State and Federal CO standards. NOx and SOx produce acid rain. and particulates of these and other compounds provide a vehicle for carcinogenic heavy metals and other harmful substances to enter the deepest recesses of the lungs. It should be remembered that our pollutants do not remain here.