Sea air

Air at or by the sea has traditionally been thought to offer health benefits associated with its unique odor, which Victorians attributed to ozone. More recently, it has been determined that the chemical responsible for much of the odor is dimethyl sulfide, released by microbes. Air at or by the sea has traditionally been thought to offer health benefits associated with its unique odor, which Victorians attributed to ozone. More recently, it has been determined that the chemical responsible for much of the odor is dimethyl sulfide, released by microbes. Salts generally do not dissolve in air, but can be carried by sea spray in the form of particulate matter. In modern times, the quality of this air is now degraded by pollution from shipping which burns high sulphur fuel in its engines and so generates large quantities of sulphate aerosols.