Smoke or other atmospheric pollutants combined with fog in an unhealthy or irritating mixture is the exact definition of smog. Smog affects some areas more than others, so the awareness of how dangerous smog actually is not as widely known.

Smog is a severe problem that many overlook, even though many hazardous health problems can arise from it. In areas with smog, many children can grow up with asthma problems or troubles with overall breathing.

According to a National Geographic press encyclopedia entry, “Ozone can be helpful or harmful. The ozone layer high up in the atmosphere protects us from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet radiation. But when ozone is close to the ground, it is bad for human health. Ozone can damage lung tissue, and it is especially dangerous to people with respiratory illnesses like asthma. Ozone can also cause itchy, burning eyes.”

The main concern with smog is that there are no PM 2.5 particles within the air. These particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and affect breathing or cause problems within the lungs.

Cities that are established in areas like a basin or a valley are more likely to be affected due to the fact that is is harder for the smog to be carried away by wind.

Areas in China and Los Angeles have high smog rates from the geographical aspect of where the cities lie.

Mexico City has been highly affected by the smog crisis. Scientist have stated that Mexico’s  factor of smog is not from motor vehicles, but from oregonians with industrial sources or garbage incineration.

“New research suggests that if the smog persists, Chinese agriculture will suffer conditions ‘somewhat similar to a nuclear winter,’” He Dongxian, an associate professor at China Agricultural University’s College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, said.

Countries, including the United States, have created new laws to reduce the spread of smog. These laws include restrictions on what chemicals a factory can release into the atmosphere, or when the factory can release them.

Some communities have “burn days” when residents can burn waste, such as leaves in their yard. These limits on chemicals released into the air reduce the amount of smog.

Pollution, global warming or smog, no matter what it’s called someone somewhere in the world will be affected or harmed. Now is the time to make a change and help the world.