Ground-level Ozone (GLO) ( UPSC Prelims)

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News Context

A report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) identified the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) as the area most severely affected by elevated Ozone (O3) pollution, with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) being the next most impacted.

About Ground-level Ozone (GLO)

 ● Secondary, short-lived pollutant that persists in the atmosphere for only a few hours to weeks.  
  ● Factor Responsible: Formed through chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).  
    ● Anthropogenic sources: Include transportation, power plants, residential, and agricultural activities.  
    ● Natural sources: Emissions from soil-based NOx, wildfires releasing CO, and biospheric methane emissions.  
      ○ The safe eight-hourly ozone standard is 100 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), while the one-hour limit is 180 µg/m³.
  ● Impact: Affects health by worsening bronchitis and triggering asthma; contributes to climate as a major component of smog; and has implications for agriculture and ecosystems.