Air Quality Alerts and Tips to Protect Your Health

Air pollutants may reach unhealthy levels as the temperature rises and may put people at risk, especially children, senior citizens, and people with heart or respiratory conditions, like asthma.

The most hazardous pollutants in the summer affecting public health include ground level ozone and airborne particles (see more information about summertime air pollutants below).  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the Air Quality Index (AQI) to measure local air quality to protect your health. The AQI is divided into six categories and are associated with color codes:

Desirable air quality is below 100. An index value above 100 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.  

Be Alert of Action Days

The EPA has set up Action Days to call attention to the AQI if it gets into unhealthy ranges. When Code Orange is called, this means the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. If you are affected, you need to take precautions.  Here are several resources to keep you informed of air quality.

Local Weather Reports.  Weather reports typically include daily reporting of air quality.

AIRNow Visibility Cameras. The EPA website, AIRNow, provides visibility cameras for specific monitored areas.

EnviroFlash Email Alerts. The general public can become more aware of air quality alerts through a special email alert system called EnviroFlash.  Subscribers can sign up, fill out some basic information, and receive daily alerts about local AQI forecasts.  The system also provides proactive tips during unhealthy air days.

Changing the time of day for activities or limiting exertion or duration are a few ways for you and your family to stay healthy.  To help reduce your pollution effect, follow these timely tips.

When ozone levels are high:

• Conserve electricity
• Delay household, workshop, and garden chemical usage
• Share a ride to work or use public transportation
• Limit engine idling
• Combine errands and reduce car trips
• Refuel cars and trucks after dusk

When particle pollution is high:

• Eliminate fireplace or wood stove use
• Avoid using gas powered lawn mower and garden equipment
• Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials

Source: WDUQNews

Protecting Your Health & Safety: More Information about Summertime Pollutants

What is ground level ozone?

Ground level ozone is the result of pollutants that occur in the presence of sunlight, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen. Emissions of these pollutants are the result of fuel combustion, as well as exposure to paints, pesticides, adhesives, and harsh cleaners.  Nitrogen oxide occurs when motor vehicle engines run at high temperatures, especially in summertime heat.

Sunlight and hot weather cause ground level ozone to form in harmful concentrations in the air. Visibly ground level ozone is more often referred to as smog.  Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of problems, including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. 

What are the airborne particles?

Particle pollution is caused by fine and course particle types. Fine types of particle pollution are the result of combustion from motor vehicles, wood burning fires, power plants, and industrial processes.  Course types of particle pollution include exposure to crushing or grinding operations, and dust stirred up by vehicles traveling on roads.

Symptoms of particle exposure include eyes, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, phlegm, chest tightness and shortness of breath.