The Weather Channel
By Sean Breslin
August 14, 2015
Despite all the leaps the United States made in the past few years to cut ozone emissions, researchers found China’s pollution is blowing into the Western U.S. and putting a dent in the progress.
The findings, published this week in the journal Nature Geoscience, show the ozone levels in the troposphere – the lowest level of the atmosphere – rose by about 7 percent over China from 2005 to 2010. The study also said that the Chinese pollution has offset 43 percent of all efforts to reduce ozone in the Western U.S.
This picture taken on June 23, 2015 shows vehicles running along smog-covered streets in Beijing. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
“In a manner of speaking, China is exporting its air pollutionto the West Coast of America,” lead researcher Willem Verstraeten of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute said in a statement.
Ozone pollution can lead to a slew of respiratory problems, including asthma and respiratory infections, according to Clean Air Trust. Children and the elderly are especially at risk for these health issues.
The study blames rapid population growth and industrialization for the increase in ozone emissions. The pollution has become so severe that some scientists believe it may soon affect weather in America.
There is good news, however. China has been working on plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions in recent years, and hopes to reach its peak of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. The country also plans to cap its coal use by 2020, Think Progress reported.
Streets and buildings are seen under heavy smog in Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, on October 21, 2013. Choking clouds of pollution blanketed Harbin, which is famed for its annual ice festival. (STR/AFP/Getty Images)
