Ground-level Ozone the silent plant killer
Ground-level Ozone: the silent plant killer Ozone — an invisible, odourless gas O3 — is essential for life in the upper atmosphere because it shields the earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. The 1987 Montreal Protocol phasing out industrial chemicals that were destroying the ozone layer is considered one of the most successful international environmental actions ever taken. Tropospheric Ozone , at ground level, it's a whole different ballgame, here the highly oxidative ozone is toxic to plants and even human life . It is categorised as a greenhouse gas — the third worst after carbon dioxide and methane. Ozone pollution is a growing albeit hidden problem. since it cannot commonly be seen or felt, people ignore it. Scientists have coined the phrase “ Ozone: Good up high, bad nearby ”. Ozone does more damage to plants than all other air pollutants combined, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is predicted to cause a substantial ...