National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Ozone is the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Ozone
Ozone is a gas. It can be good or bad, depending on where it is. "Good" ozone occurs naturally about 10 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface. It shields us from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Part of the good ozone layer is gone - destroyed by man-made chemicals. Without enough good ozone, people may get too much ultraviolet radiation. This may increase the risk of skin cancer, cataracts and immune system problems.
"Bad" ozone is at ground level. It forms when pollutants from cars, factories and other sources react chemically with sunlight. It is the main ingredient in smog. It is usually worst in the summer. Breathing bad ozone can be harmful, causing coughing, throat irritation, worsening of asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, and even permanent lung damage, if you are regularly exposed to it.
Environmental Protection Agency
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Start Here
- Air Quality Guide for Ozone(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Also available in Spanish
- Ozone and Your Health(Environmental Protection Agency) - PDF
- Also available in Spanish
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
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Learn More
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Multimedia & Cool Tools
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For group Basics
For group Learn More
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
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Overviews
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Ozone(National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
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Ozone Pollution
(American Lung Association)
- Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards)
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Tox Town(National Library of Medicine)
- Also available in Spanish
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Ozone
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Latest News
- Smoggy Air Tied to Heart Attacks(02/18/2013, HealthDay)
- Exposure to Smog in Early Pregnancy Linked to Complications(02/07/2013, HealthDay)
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Prevention/Screening
- Green Vehicle Guide(Environmental Protection Agency)
- What You Should Know about Refrigerants When Purchasing or Repairing a Residential Air Conditioning System or Heat Pump(Environmental Protection Agency)
- You Can Help Keep the Air Cleaner -- Every Day(Environmental Protection Agency)
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Specific Conditions
- Brief Questions and Answers on Ozone Depletion(Environmental Protection Agency)
- Ground-Level Ozone(Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards)
- Ground-Level Ozone Standards Designations(Environmental Protection Agency)
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Related Issues
- Greenhouse Gases(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
- Ozone Air Purifiers: Can They Improve Asthma Symptoms?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Ozone Generators That Are Sold as Air Cleaners(Environmental Protection Agency, Indoor Environments Division)
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Pictures & Photographs
- Process of Ozone Depletion(Environmental Protection Agency)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ozone Exposure(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Ozone Exposure
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Ozone Layer Protection Glossary(Environmental Protection Agency)
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Organizations
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Children
- Ozone, Air Quality, and Asthma(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- SunWise Kids: Ozone(Environmental Protection Agency)
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Teenagers
- On the Trail of the Missing Ozone: The Causes, Effects, and Solutions to Ozone Depletion(Environmental Protection Agency)
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