Crops and vegetation throughout Sussex experience unhealthy and potentially damaging concentrations of ozone pollution, the Anglo/French Air Rives Manche - Ozone (ARMO)' project has found. This, and other results, will be presented at a conference in Brighton on Friday, 16th March 20073.

Ozone damages plants, slows down their growth and reduces biodiversity. In 2003 and 2006, both record years for high ozone concentrations, all vegetation in Sussex was exposed to levels above United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) guideline values. Even in 2002, 2004 and 2005, large areas were at risk.

The project found that some of the ozone in Sussex may have come from France and some may occur because of emissions from ships in the English Channel.

"These high concentrations have to be of concern to farmers, foresters, horticulturalists and all those involved in growing or managing vegetation. Global warming will probably cause ozone levels to rise in the future too, so making the problem worse," said Philip Mulligan, Acting CEO of the NSCA.

Primary and junior school children at 10 schools in Sussex saw the type of damage that can be caused, during the summer of 2006. They grew a special type of ozone-sensitive plant and were able to see and measure the brown spots that appeared on the leaves when ozone levels were high.