The Difference Between "Good" and "Bad" Ozone
For living creatures on Earth, there is good ozone and bad ozone. Good ozone is found in the stratosphere, far above the Earth's surface. Called the ozone layer, it absorbs and scatters UV radiation from the Sun, particularly the most dangerous UV-B and UV-C forms. Whether the molecule is helpful or harmful has nothing to do with the chemical makeup and everything to do with location. About 10 percent of the ozone in the atmosphere is found in the troposphere, the layer we live in. This bad ozone is created by chemical reactions between air pollutants from vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors (VOC), and other emissions. At high concentrations, ground-level ozone is toxic to people and plants, which is why it is one of the six pollutant chemicals that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitors and regulates
