Compare the health and environmental risks associated with ground-level ozone to the health and environmental risks associated with ozone layer depletion.

Answer:

Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant that can irritate the lungs, worsen asthma, and damage plants and crops. Ozone-layer depletion is different: it allows more harmful UV-B radiation to reach Earth’s surface, increasing risks such as skin cancer, cataracts, and immune-system harm. It can also damage plants and marine ecosystems. Ground-level ozone is harmful ozone near the surface, while depletion means there is less protective ozone in the stratosphere.