A new report published in October 2008 by the Royal Society says that human health and food production are being damaged because too little is being done to control worldwide ozone levels.

Ozone is a gas formed by the reaction between sunlight and chemicals in the air. Sources of ozone-promoting pollutants include vehicle exhaust fumes and shipping. Despite efforts to control the gas, it is still present in quantities well above safe levels. Levels close to the ground have risen 6% each decade since the 1980s, the Royal Society says in its report.

An estimated 1,582 people died in 2003 because of the effects of ozone. Deaths are forecast to rise by at least 51 per cent to 2,391 by 2020 because of pollution and climate change. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to adverse reactions to ozone, which affects the eyes, lungs and nose.

Besides being hazardous to health, ozone is a contributor to global warming and it leads to important reductions in crop yields. In addition, it also reduces the nutritional values of wheat, rice and soya beans.

The Royal Society is calling for a globally co-ordinated strategy to address the international nature of the ozone problem.