Introduction

Abstract

In 1785, the Dutch scientist Martinus van Marum noticed that air exposed to electrical sparks had a characteristic smell and demonstrated redox properties. This phenomenon was explained in 1840 by Christian Schönbein, the Swiss researcher, as the formation of a special gas, which was named ozone, based on the Greek word “ωoξ” or “ozo”, which meant “smell”. Later it was shown, that ozone is an allotropic modification of oxygen trioxide and is constantly present in air. Its concentration increases during thunder storms or in predominantly coniferous forest areas. Recently, anthropogenic sources of O₃ are also known: exhaust from automobiles and wastes of manufacturing plants, as well as any technology that produces ultraviolet irradiation, from photocopiers to computers. Below is an indication of the main sources of ozone divided into outdoor and indoor sources of the gas: