Ozone damages trees and plants. It impairs plant growth, and makes them more easily harmed by insects and disease.
Ground-level ozone irritates the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system. It's especially bad for those with chronic heart and lung disease (like asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema), children and the elderly, as well as pregnant women.
Ozone aggressively attacks lung tissue and has harmful effects on peoples' health. You might think of it as sunburn on your lungs. Breathing ozone-containing smog can lead to several types of health problems.
Difficulty breathing and lung damage
Because of ozone's effect on lung function, it can make it feel difficult to breathe deeply, especially during exercise. Research has shown that ozone exposure can also damage the lining of your lungs.
Worsening asthma symptoms
If you suffer from asthma, being exposed to high levels of smog can trigger asthma attacks.
Coughing and throat/chest irritation
High levels of ozone can irritate your respiratory system. These types of mild symptoms usually only last for a short time after you've been exposed. However, if levels remain high, then ozone can continue to harm your lungs even after symptoms disappear.