Potentially damaging surface ozone levels rose in lockdown in UK: Study

The University of York has revealed less traffic on the roads during the first lockdown may have caused potentially damaging surface ozone levels to rise in the UK.

The study said levels of nitrogen dioxide fell by 42% on average and surface ozone increased by 11%. The first lockdown levels of O3 were the worst in the South of England

According to Phys.org, Surface, or ground-level ozone, can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma. Scientists believe our warm and sunny spring weather may have been a contributing factor.

The report further states that if the COVID-19 lockdown is taken as an example of how air quality will respond to future reductions in vehicle emissions with more electric vehicles being introduced, it serves as a warning that the problem of O3 must also be considered