Interpretation bodennaher Ozonkonzentrationen für die gesundheitliche Bewertung

Stable sunny weather conditions with photochemical smog situations have appeared more frequently during the last few summers in Germany. This became more and more attentive to the public as well as those involved in environment and health politics have recently become more and more attentive to this situation. Meanwhile, a problem of misunderstanding has grown through the use data consisting of different mean values for the interpretation of the ozone health impact on man. The false conception that ozone concentrations measured in rural sites are principally higher than those of inner-city sites has frequently dominated. Using selected examples, this article serves to contribute a better understanding and interpretation of ambient ozone concentrations as related to health impact assessment. The analyses are focused on comparisons between inner-city and rural measurements concerning short-term maximum ozone concentrations, as well as on the problems of selecting air monitoring stations which are appropriate for the ozone exposure and risk assessment.