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Smog
The term smog was originally coined to describe a combination of smoke and fog. Today, the description has expanded to include a mixture of noxious gases and particulate matter formed when sunlight interacts with anthropogenic air pollutants, usually under higher temperatures. This is better described as “photochemical smog” among the global scientific community. It is a negative consequence of industrialization and our modern-day lifestyle.
The principal component of photochemical smog is anomalous concentrations of ground-level ozone, which is formed when anthropogenic pollutants (mainly nitrogen oxides) react with reactive organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Photochemical smog can also be made up of a host of other compounds including nitrogen dioxide, nitric acids, aldehydes, particulate organic and inorganic nitrates, and peroxyacetyle nitrate. Nitrous oxides and the reactive organic compounds are precursors of ozone, the main smog constituent. Ozone is a naturally occurring atmospheric gas that is present in high concentrations in the stratospheric ozone layer, where its presence is critical in protecting the Earth from too much ultraviolet radiation. It is also present at ground levels, with normal atmospheric concentrations ranging from 15 to 35 parts per billion in nonpolluted areas. High concentrations at ground level cause photochemical smog, which is a serious pollution problem and sometimes characterized by atmospheric haze and accompanying health effects.
Industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust emissions are the main sources of nitrogen oxides and reactive organic chemicals. They are emitted into the atmosphere from natural sources like wildfires, lightning, bacterial action, and vegetation, and from anthropogenic sources like emissions from power generation, jet engines, motor vehicles, incineration, fuel evaporation, solvent usage, and other industrial processes. The reactions between these pollutants to form photochemical smog take place in high temperatures in the presence of sunlight; hence, photochemical smog is common on hot, sunny days.
Health Effects of Smog
Smog constituents, particularly ozone, have both serious health and environmental effects. The health effects of exposure include respiratory illnesses such as cough, dryness of the throat, and deep painful breathing, and, in some cases, it may result in tissue injuries deep in the lungs and premature aging of the lungs. There are also a host of other effects, such as irritation from particulates. There is a high risk of exposure for children and adults with preexisting respiratory disease such as asthma and bronchitis. Heat and humidity, which occur alongside smog, have a synergistic effect in increasing the stress on the cardio-respiratory systems.
Environmental Effects
Photochemical smog has serious environmental effects on plants and animals. Pollution levels of ozone in the atmosphere cause significant adverse effects to horticultural crops, forest trees, and annual plants. Annual plants such as spinach and tomatoes are highly responsive to elevated concentrations of ozone. It causes dead patterns on the upper surfaces of leaves of trees and causes reduction in the rate of photosynthesis, water use efficiency, drought tolerance, leaf area, and flowering rates. Photochemical smog also affects various materials, including plastics, metals, concrete, and paintworks. Ozone is a strong oxidizer and can chemically attack some of these materials. Paintings, rubber, and coating deteriorate very quickly when exposed to pollution levels of ozone and other photochemical smog constituents.
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