Scientists' Contributions  
   

Ozone Quiz
Test your knowledge about ozone!

Pierre Vollenweider,
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)
Zuercherstr 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
Email: Pierre.vollenweider@wsl.ch

If you contact the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL) – http://www.wsl.ch , you can obtain free a CD-ROM with a new Quiz – The Ozone Quiz!

The CD will run automatic and within some minutes you will certainly know much more in easy way and will get new ideas on how to draw closer together science and public.

The first screen tells you:

The ozone content of the air has doubled in the past 50 years.

Ozone affects all living things - plants, animals and humans. In early summer, ozone levels rise, as is shown in the newspapers with the weather forecast - but does that tell us enough? With this quiz you can test your knowledge about ozone and probably learn more!

Chemistry and Incidence of Ozone (15 questions)
Effects of Ozone on Plants (8 questions)
Effects of Ozone on Humans (16 questions)

Further you can read and answer all the questions thinking and learning new facts on the topic:

You will find internet addresses on the topic like: and many other links.

Our community can help that everyone on Earth becomes aware of:

Breathing smoggy air can be hazardous to your health because ground-level ozone (a key component of smog) can cause serious respiratory problems. Ground-level ozone can:

  • Cause coughing
  • Irritate your throat
  • Cause discomfort in your chest
  • Reduce lung function
  • Aggravate asthma
  • Inflame and damage the lining of your lungs

Most people only have to worry about ozone exposure when levels are high. But children, the elderly and people with problems like asthma and emphysema are more at risk of respiratory problems due to ground-level ozone. Active adults who work and/or exercise outdoors also should pay special attention to ozone concentrations. Physical activity causes people to breathe faster and more deeply, thus allowing ozone pollution to penetrate deeper into the lungs.

Everyone on Earth is affected by air pollution on hot, sunny days when ozone levels are high. Everyday we make choices that impact our health and the environment. We can all work together to reduce the amount of ozone-causing pollution we add to the air by making small, simple changes in the things we do each day.

There are hundreds of small things that everyone can do everyday to prevent air pollution:

At Home: Reduce energy use;
On the Road: Clean Air Car Care;
At Work: Optimise organization of activities to reach energy saving and travel reductions

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