Aug 16, 2024
GROUND-LEVEL OZONE CONCENTRATION
1. What is ground-level ozone?
• Ground-level ozone is a highly reactive gas formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight.
2. Why is high ground-level ozone a concern?
• High concentrations of ground-level ozone can irritate the respiratory system, cause asthma attacks, exacerbate chronic lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis, and increase the frequency of hospitalizations due to lung-related illnesses.
3. How often did Delhi exceed safe ozone levels?
• Between January 1 and July 18, 2024, Delhi-NCR recorded 176 days of ground-level ozone exceedance out of a total of 200 days.
4. Which other cities in India have high ozone levels?
• Besides Delhi-NCR, other cities with significant ozone exceedances include Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Chennai, and Kolkata.
5. What are the health effects of ground-level ozone?
• Exposure to high levels of ground-level ozone can lead to inflammation and damage to the airways, making individuals more susceptible to respiratory infections and aggravating conditions like asthma and chronic bronchitis.
6. How does ground-level ozone form?
• It forms from the chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight.
7. Are green areas less affected by ozone?
• The study found that green or high-end neighborhoods were not spared; they were significantly impacted, indicating that ground-level ozone is a widespread issue.
8. How did the 2024 data compare to previous years?
• The data showed an increase in the number of ozone exceedance days compared to the previous year, indicating a worsening situation.
9. What measures can be taken to reduce ground-level ozone?
• Reducing emissions from vehicles, industrial sources, and power plants, as well as implementing stricter regulations on air quality standards, can help reduce ground-level ozone levels.
SRIRAM’s
