The beginning of our summer ozone season starts on April 1. This is the time of year when temperatures really start to warm up along with more sunshine due to the lengthening of days.
If you are wondering what time of year ground level ozone is at its worst, that occurs in the middle of the summer.
This combination of warm temperatures and more sunlight interact and chemically mixes with other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) producing ground level ozone.
Examples of VOCs are vapors of gasoline, alcohol, paint thinner, and many solvents. The sources of the NOx and VOCs are motor vehicles, industrial operations such as paint shops, manufacturing, and energy production. Some VOCs even come from vegetation. Because of the nature of its formation, ozone is also known as photochemical smog. It is a pollutant of great concern because it harms people when they are exposed to it. Although it is invisible, it causes eye, nose, throat and lung irritation along with permanent lung damage (scarring and decreased lung function) as we breathe it in.
