Why do so many people not know the difference between smog and ozone?

Question

people seem to use ozone to describe smog, when in reality it has nothing to do with pollution and does not contribute to pollution, ozone is O3, smog is smog, ozone destroys smog, it is a component of smog only because it is actively fighting against it, it is not a toxin.

Answer 1

Actually surface (Troposhereic) Ozone (O3) DOES contribute to pollution and is considered a component of smog. As you mentioned it is an oxidizer and it will readilly combines with other chemicals and compounds many time these reactions create a toxic byproduct such as acids and NOx which contribute to the pollution.  

O3 with sulfur and water will produce surfuric acid

O3 combines with Nitrous Oxides elevating them, NO2 to NO3 for example

Answer 2

The ozone we generally speak of is the stuff of our ozone layer that reflects away from our Earth some deadly radiation as well as a lot of UV radiation.

Surface ozone can be very dangerous because it reacts strongly with other molecular structures.  It is bad for your lungs and inhibits plant growths.

Answer 3

For the same reason they don't know the difference between smog and fog.

Answer 4

Maybe because people today are ******* stupid and I'm tired of it? That could be it..

Answer 5

I have never heard anyone confusing the two. Partly because there's not much smog around these days as it means a mixture of smoke and fog. Plenty of pollution though.

Answer 6

i've honestly never heard people confuse the 2

but i bet it's just a lack of education

people hear about the ozone layer all the time, without maybe knowing what it is

they probably just get the two confused, or have never been told what it really means