In Atlantic Canada, we are already experiencing smog levels which cause discomfort to sensitive individuals and damage vegetation. While we can improve some emission control practices and regulations in Atlantic Canada to ease the problem, we are increasingly the victims of smog from the northeastern United States which we cannot control. Studies have shown that exposure to sufficiently high levels of ozone can affect human health, vegetation, and some organic and synthetic materials. It can increase respiratory problems and impair performance in athletes. And more seriously, people with asthma and other sensitive individuals are known to suffer more frequent attacks when ozone levels are high.
Ozone can also cause eye irritation, headaches, and chest discomfort.
In Atlantic Canada, ozone damage is frequently seen on the leaves of some varieties of potatoes. Indeed, agricultural crops, flowers, shrubs and trees are all vulnerable to ozone pollution. Rubber, textile dyes and fibres, and certain types of paints and coatings are either damaged or weakened by exposure to ozone. Synthetic elastic materials can become brittle and crack, while textiles and dyes tend to fade faster than usual. No Canadian estimates are available for similar ozone-related losses.