|  | Public Health Safety | Community

Harmful Effects of Smog

Smog refers to dangerous ground-level pollutants made up primarily of toxic ozone gases. Naturally occurring ozone gases exist 10 to 30 miles above the Earth and help protect humans from pollution and harmful UV rays. Ozone at the ground level is toxic and occurs when volatile chemical compounds from car exhaust, factories and other human sources combine with nitrogen oxide, sunlight and heat to create smog. The presence of smog creates numerous health, environmental and infrastructural hazards.

  1. Health Hazards

    • Breathing smog inflames and irritates the sensitive tissue inside your lungs, causing short-term shortness of breath and coughing. Prolonged inhalation can cause the inside of your lungs to become sunburned and peel, leaving scars or permanently damaging your respiratory system. Those with compromised health or lung capacity, such as the elderly and asthmatics, are at greater risk of needing hospitalization on high-smog days.

    Environmental Hazards

    • The sulfur and nitrogen dioxides found in smog alter the pH level of ground-level air, resulting in the precipitation of acid rain. This toxic chemical shower hinders the process of plant respiration known as photosynthesis, making vegetation more vulnerable to pesticides, insects and erosion. Not only does smog damage the existing plants, but it also alters the delicate organic balance of soil, stunting plant and tree growth and reproduction.

    Material Hazards

    • The physical and structural landscapes of most major cities suffer from years of exposure to material-corroding smog that necessitates expensive cleaning and upkeep. If you walk down Park Avenue in New York City, you'll see many beautifully elaborate limestone townhomes where apartments routinely sell for tens of millions of dollars. You will also notice the outside of many buildings are gray. Limestone is just one of the many building materials adversely affected by the corrosive properties of smog, not to mention the aesthetic degradation. Smog also dries out leather and rubber, making them brittle and inflexible. The breakdown of materials from smog makes many infrastructural safety measures, such as rubber anti-slip mats on subway stairs, unsafe and unreliable.

Community - Related Articles