What Are the Environmental Effects of Smog?

Smog contains many small particles, including ozone, pollens, topsoil, wood smoke, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, organic compounds, hydrocarbons and road dust. Smog negatively affects both the environment and human health. Cities with high levels of smog are typically not desirable places to live.

Plant and Animal Life

• Smog damages plant life by inhibiting plants' natural ability of plants to make and store food through photosynthesis. When this process is compromised, plant growth, reproduction and general health suffer. Smog can weaken plants that already sensitive and make them more susceptible to disease, habitat stressors and pests. As a consequence, plants can start dying out and become unable to contribute to the greater ecosystem they inhabit. Low-lying smog can deplete crop yield for important agricultural plants like wheat, cotton and soybeans. Smog harms animals as well. Nitrogen oxides in smog can kill fish and algae in water habitats.

Acid Deposits and Acid Rain

• Smog can create acid deposits in the form of acid rain, snow, fog, gas and dust. As smog reacts with water in the air, it creates acidic particles. Acidic agents ending up in plants, soil and water deplete current nutrients, cause water pollution, which can affect plants and animals, magnify mercury in the food chain and damage buildings and monuments by acidic erosion.

Humans

• Smog affects humans as well. It can kill elderly people prematurely and increase the incidence of asthma in children. Fine particles of toxic chemicals found in smog are easily inhaled and deposited in the body via the lungs. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are some of the particles that people living in polluted areas inhale.

Visibility

• When components of smog congregate, they can create dust clouds, black soot and gray fog. This can result in a smog cloud that can reduce visibility by 70 percent, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Smog clouds are dangerous to drivers, airplanes, bicyclists and pedestrians.