Air Pollution vs. Ozone Pollution Seesaw: Impacts on Health, Agriculture, Environment, Scientists Warn

Researchers at the University of York have discovered the reason why, in some developing nations, reducing air pollution causes an increase in ozone pollution, which has negative effects on the environment, agriculture, and human health.

The findings, call into question tried-and-true methods for reducing air pollution.

Increase in Ozone

Surface ozone, the main ingredient in "smog," is created through chemical reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). When sunlight is present, pollutants released from factories, power plants, refineries, industrial boilers, automobiles, and other sources react.

When nations such As China improved air quality by reducing air pollution, or more specifically, particle pollution, which is released into the atmosphere through burning coal, making steel, driving, and starting fires, the scientific community was shocked to find an uptick in ozone pollution throughout the previous decade. New information about the relationship between the two contaminants has now been revealed by the research.

Even though customarily, policymakers have approached ozone and particles as separate issues, the researchers have demonstrated that in some locations, they are closely related. Short-lived ozone-producing elements called peroxy radicals cling to particle pollution and stop it from continuing to produce ozone. More peroxy radicals are readily accessible for reactions as the number of particles decreases, which raises the amount of ozone.

The study's simulation of the effects of reducing particle pollution suggested that it might lead to an increase in ozone pollution of 20-30% in certain densely populated areas of China and India. If left unchecked, this would have an extremely negative effect on crop yield and ecosystems.

Call for New Strategies

The researchers are pushing for the creation of novel strategies that account for this interrelationship between contaminants. The problem can be solved by concentrating on a wider range of pollutants, especially (VOCs) from fuels and chemicals and NOx from combustion.

Professor Mathew Evans from the Department of Chemistry at the University of York said that Policymakers all over the world have traditionally viewed air pollution as a separate problem from ozone pollution, but their study highlights the need to consider them jointly. Evans is a co-lead author of the study. Only now are the pieces of the puzzle coming together after 40 years of believing that ozone was solely dependent on nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. In light of this new information, the policy must now be modified.

He continues that, given the significant risk it presents to human health, reducing atmospheric particulate matter should be a top priority. However, this study emphasizes the difficult decisions that governments must make regarding their investment in air pollution management. There could be unforeseen connections between different pollutants because the issues are complicated.

Casualties of Air Pollution

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to outdoor air pollution causes 4.2 million premature deaths each year. The worst-affected nations include those in Africa, China, and other developing nations like India.

The modeling study predicted that a substantial reduction in air pollution in these regions would necessitate drastic cuts in NOx and VOC emissions, up to 50%, to maintain ozone pollution levels.

Professor Alastair Lewis from the National Centre for Atmospheric Science added that this study shows that there can be risks in focusing too narrowly on just one pollutant. Lewis is another co-lead author of the study. The particle pollution situation in China has significantly improved recently, but focusing solely on particles can have unintended consequences. It is now imperative to take action by boosting the reduction in emissions of VOCs and NOx, Sci Tech Daily reports.