Carolyn Herman and Regina Frey Good air quality is a major factor in public health.
Photochemical smog is the most common air-quality problem.
This tutorial describes the harmful components of air pollution, the important sources of air pollution in the United States, and several strategies for reducing air pollution. Redox reactions are the basis for understanding each of these topics. For example, one of the major components of air pollution is ozone, and it is the oxidative ability of ozone that causes the harmful effects. The tutorial discusses the oxidative ability of ozone in the body. Automotive emissions increase the ozone concentration even though ozone is not directly produced by these emissions.