The most harmful are outlined below. Don't leave the future of our air up to someone else. Especially troublesome during our hot summer months, ozone causes inflammation of the lungs, impaired breathing, coughing, chest pain, nausea, and throat irritation. Long-term effects from exposure include increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and permanent damage to lung tissues.
Ozone also causes severe damage to commercial crops and forests.
It hinders the body's ability to carry oxygen in the blood causing serious problems for those with cardiovascular diseases. At high concentrations, carbon monoxide also can increase fatigue, reduce work capacity, and may adversely affect fetal development. It can also increase the risk of premature mortality in elderly and ill persons. Traffic on unpaved roads, windblown dust, construction and demolition are all major contributors. Greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth's lower atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise, a process known as global warming.