Yes, ozone harms plants. Ground-level ozone, a major air pollutant, significantly damages plants worldwide, impacting both agricultural crops and natural ecosystems.
How Ozone Damages Plants
Ozone enters plants through tiny openings on their leaves called stomata. Once inside, it acts as an oxidant, essentially burning plant tissue during respiration. This process leads to visible damage on leaves and reduces plant survival rates. The U.S. National Park Service notes that ground-level ozone is harmful to both human health and plants. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/air/nature-ozone.htm The USDA even states that ozone causes more plant damage than all other air pollutants combined. https://e360.yale.edu/features/ozone-pollution-an-insidious-and-growing-threat-to-biodiversity
This damage manifests in various ways, including:
- Reduced growth rates
- Leaf discoloration and spotting
- Increased susceptibility to diseases and pests
- Decreased yields in crops
Even ozone generators, often marketed for air purification, can harm plants if used improperly. High concentrations needed to eliminate odors can damage plants, impacting smell, flavor, and even THC content in cannabis plants. https://www.reddit.com/r/microgrowery/comments/14tir66/will_ozone_generator_kill_or_contaminate_my_plants/ https://www.thcfarmer.com/threads/do-ozone-generators-negatively-effect-plants.57766/
It's important to note that while the stratospheric ozone layer protects us from harmful UV radiation, ground-level ozone is a pollutant with detrimental effects on both human health and plant life. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/ozone-and-health
