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A recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine identifies geographical sources of ozone air pollution and assesses ozone-attributable mortality rates in Europe. Study: Geographic sources of ozone air pollution and mortality burden in Europe . Image Credit: Evgenii Panov / Shutterstock.

com Ground-level ozone is formed in the troposphere due to the interaction between sunlight and greenhouse gases (GHGs) generated from natural and man-made sources, particularly nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Ground-level ozone is a very harmful air pollutant. It is associated with many respiratory complications, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung infection.



Furthermore, excessive ozone exposure is a leading cause of air pollution-related hospitalization and premature mortality worldwide. According to the European Environmental Agency, over 95% of the European population is exposed to ozone levels that exceed air-quality guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Tropospheric transport of ozone and its precursors from far-distant sources, otherwise referred to as imported ozone, is a major determinant of ground-level ozone levels.

Thus, coordinated actions among countries are urgently needed to effectively reduce ground-level ozone levels and their associated health complications. In the current study, scientists assess the health effects of ground-level ozone exposure in Europe. The researchers also quantified mortality rates .

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