> The software was designed to conceal the cars’ emissions of the pollutant nitr...

ctrl_freak · on Sept 18, 2015

> is creating ozone a bad thing?

At the ground level, yes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone

"Ozone is a powerful oxidant (far more so than dioxygen) and has many industrial and consumer applications related to oxidation. This same high oxidising potential, however, causes ozone to damage mucous and respiratory tissues in animals, and also tissues in plants, above concentrations of about 100 ppb. This makes ozone a potent respiratory hazard and pollutant near ground level."

capnrefsmmat · on Sept 18, 2015

Ozone is a respiratory irritant when it's at low altitude, so pumping out ozone isn't a great way to help the ozone hole:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Ozone_air_pollution

aw3c2 · on Sept 18, 2015

It is! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Health_effects

jandrese · on Sept 18, 2015

Ozone production at ground level won't reach the upper atmosphere. It is too reactive. So all it's doing is burning people.

dragonwriter · on Sept 18, 2015

> Ozone production at ground level won't reach the upper atmosphere. It is too reactive.

And, also, heavier than air.

to3m · on Sept 18, 2015

Nitrogen oxide is the new smoking: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10862975/Emission-t...

(Article is from last year - it's just something I found on google just now - but representative.)