The Problem Ground level ozone is one of the major air pollutants that the EPA is trying to control. Not only is it a major cause of smog, but it is a health threat especially for persons with lung, bronchial and other breathing problems. The EPA reports that more people in the USA are exposed to unacceptable levels of ozone than all the other criteria pollutants combined.
Ozone is also harmful to growing plants resulting in agricultural losses.
This low-level ozone is not a natural air constituent. Until now, we have not been successful in reducing the Nox levels in the air. The major sources of VOC are the industries that use them as solvents under conditions that release them to the atmosphere. Until now, whenever a manufacturing process required the application of thin layers of polymeric materials to large surfaces, it was customary to dissolve or disperse that polymer in solvents, spread them on the substrate and then drive off the volatile solvent with heat. This has been typical of paints, coatings, inks, adhesives and similar materials.