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Congratulations to Beth Sheckler from Carbon County, Rita Hawrot from Mercer County, and Larry Spencer from Venango County for submitting the correct answer!

Ground-level Ozone can decrease agricultural productivity by:

Interfering with the plant's ability to store food

Makes plants more susceptible to diseases and environmental stresses

Reduces growth and reproduction of the plant
Ground-level ozone can cause damage to economically important crops that we rely on.
Ground-level ozone is also known as SMOG

Ground-level ozone can also negatively affect our environment and ourselves by:

Damaging or killing tree leaves

Negatively impacting natural ecological functions

Cause respiratory problems

Decrease our immune system defenses
So, Where does smog come from?

Smog is comprised of:

NOx - Nitrogen Oxides emitted by vehicles, production of electricity, and anything that utlizes fuel

VOCs - Volatile Organic Compounds from vehicles, burning fuel and gas or paint uses

SO2- Sulpher Dioxide from producing electricity, oil and gas industries, and burning fossil fuels

SP - Suspended particles from road dust, burning fuel, and construction or farming activities

The reaction of the above chemicals and particles with heat and sunlight react to form ozone. This is why ground level ozone rates are higher in the summer than in the winter. An increase in ozone, however, does not increase temperatures.

For more information, check out these sites:

What you can do

50 ways to help

For Kids

Health and Environmental Effects