Photochemical oxidants: state of the science

Atmospheric photochemical processes resulting in the production of tropospheric ozone (O3) and other oxidants are described. The spatial and temporal variabilities in the occurrence of surface level oxidants and their relationships to air pollution meteorology are discussed. Models of photooxidant formation are reviewed in the context of control strategies and comparisons are provided of the air concentrations of O3 at select geographic locations around the world. This overall oxidant (O3) climatology is coupled to human health and ecological effects. The discussion of the effects includes both acute and chronic responses, mechanisms of action, human epidemiological and plant population studies and briefly, efforts to establish cause–effect relationships through numerical modeling. A short synopsis is provided of the interactive effects of O3 with other abiotic and biotic factors. The overall emphasis of the paper is on identifying the current uncertainties and gaps in our understanding of the state of the science and some suggestions as to how they may be addressed.