Does ambient ozone pose a serious public health concern as a widespread environmental mutagen?

Based on bacterial, plant, animal and human studies, it is evident that O3 is a general mutagen. However, there is still considerable uncertainty as to the extent to which O3 is a human mutagen. Attempts to develop dose-response relationships have not yielded consistent results in the several studies thus far reported. At the present time there is a complete lack of data concerning human responses from ambient exposure. In light of the extent of the photochemical oxidant problem in the U.S. and the potential genetic effects of O3, it is suggested that a major research effort be directed at both the elucidation of the potential mutagenic effects of O3 as well as the implementation of effective oxidant control strategies.