Is there a difference between smog and particle pollution?
Smog is a term that is used to define unhealthy air that we breathe. This is ground-level ozone and particle pollution. Therefore, particle pollution is smog, but smog does not exclusively refer to particle pollution. Ground level-ozone is a caustic gas formed when nitrogen oxide and volatile organic compound emissions combine with summertime heat and sunlight to create ozone. Ozone, an unstable molecule made up of three atoms of oxygen, ‘oxidizes’ with lung lining, triggering asthma attacks, a dry raspy throat and other measures. Particle pollution is made up of tiny particles and aerosols that are put out into the air. “Soot” is a term that is sometimes used to describe particle pollution. However, this term can be somewhat misleading since the particles in question are very tiny. Particle pollution comes from some of the same sources as ozone, such as power plants and auto exhaust. However, unlike ozone, particle pollution is a year-round concern.
