Abstract
AMONG the reactions of primary pollutants with one another and with substances naturally present in air, the reactions induced by light are particularly important. The occurrence of such reactions is related to the accumulation of strongly oxidizing species, particularly ozone1, which occurs naturally in the atmosphere to the extent of 20–50 p.p.b. during daylight2,3. Ozone can be detected by smell by sensitive individuals at 100 p.p.b.4, which value is a suitable threshold for an air quality evaluation, having been proposed as an air quality standard in the USA5.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Leighton, P. A., Photochemistry of Air Pollution (Academic Press, New York, 1961).
Junge, C. E., Air Chemistry and Radioactivity (Academic Press, New York, 1963).
Reiter, E. R., Atmospheric Transport Processes, Part 2, Chemical Tracers (US Atomic Energy Commission, 1971).
US Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Air Quality Criteria for Photochemical Oxidants (Washington: Publication No. AP-63, March 1970).
US Air Resources Board, Recommended Air Quality Standards (September 1970).
Daily Weather Report of the British Meteorological Office (Meteorological Office, Bracknell, Berkshire, England).
Atkins, D. H. F., Cox, R. A., and Eggleton, A. E. J., Nature, 235, 372 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DERWENT, R., STEWART, H. Elevated Ozone Levels in the Air of Central London. Nature 241, 342–343 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/241342a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/241342a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Learning to See the Invisible: Discovery and Measurement of Ozone
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2005)
-
Evidence of photochemical haze in the atmosphere of Greater London
Nature (1978)
-
Ozone concentrations in South-East England during the summer of 1976
Nature (1977)
-
Photochemical ozone in the atmosphere of Greater London
Nature (1976)
-
Ozone levels in central London
Nature (1976)