In an effort to protect local residents from pollution, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued its second Spare the Air Alert for smog in 2012. The air quality in the Bay Area is forecast to be unhealthy on Tuesday, July 10.
The Air District recommends that residents avoid recreating outside during the hottest part of the day, when the smog is most potent. Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District believes that tomorrow’s forecast emphasizes the need to make mindful clean air choices on a daily basis.
“If we re-think our commute twice a week, we can reduce the amount of pollution we produce to help avoid unhealthy air on high heat days,” Broadbent said in a statement.
The recipe for smog is simple: When exhaust from vehicles, industrial emissions and household chemicals combine with oxygen in the presence of heat and sunlight, the byproduct is polluted ozone.
Smog can cause a host of health issues, including throat irritation, congestion and asthma. Young children and seniors with respiratory or heart conditions should be the most cautious on days when ozone pollution is high.
During a Spare the Air Alert exercise and outdoor activities should be done in the early hours of the morning, when ozone concentrations are lower. Residents can make a positive impact by biking, walking, taking public transit or simply by driving with a friend.
Residents can check for Spare the Air Alerts by:
- Visiting sparetheair.org
- Calling the toll-free hotline 1-800-HELPAIR (435-7247)
- Signing up for email AirAlerts at sparetheair.org
- Downloading the Spare the Air iPhone or Android app
- Connecting with Spare the Air on Facebook, Twitter or Google+
