Ozone

	CONTACT US: Crystal Lake Clean Air Counts Committee 100 W. Woodstock Street Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-459-2020

Ozone is a gas molecule made up of three atoms of Oxygen. Depending on the location of the Ozone it can be beneficial or harmful to humans and the environment.

Good Ozone is located in the Stratosphere and is beneficial to humans. Good Ozone blocks the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays which can cause skin cancer.

Bad Ozone is located in the Troposphere (or ground-level) and is an air pollutant that has effects on human and animal respiratory systems and plant growth and reproduction.

Ozone itself is not directly emitted by car engines or industrial operations. It is formed by the reaction of sunlight and air containing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

NOx are emitted into the air when fossil fuels are burned to produce electric power and run combustion engines. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 49% of NOx emissions come from motor vehicles.

VOCs are organic chemical compounds that, under normal conditions, will vaporize and enter the atmosphere. VOCs are found in numerous materials such as paint, paint thinners, varnishes, dry cleaning solvents, some petroleum fuels such as gasoline and natural gas, carpets, plastics, glues, and laminated wood products. VOCs can have a noticeable odor, but are nearly invisible.

By reducing the amount of NOx and VOCs we emit into the air, we can decrease the amount of Ozone produced.