Air District Asks Bay Area Residents to “Spare the Air” Today

Wednesday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the fifth Spare the Air Alert for smog in 2012.

Air quality in the Bay Area is forecast to be unhealthy Thursday, August 9. There is no free transit and there is no wood burning ban in place. The Air District recommends residents avoid outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, when air quality is unhealthiest.
"With five Spare the Air Alerts already this summer and the hottest weather of the season likely yet to come, we need to do more to reduce air pollution," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. "To do this, we must reduce the number of cars on Bay Area roads so we can avoid unhealthy air during high heat days."
The Air District encourages the public to re-think their commute by taking transit, carpooling, working from home or biking and leave their car at home twice a week to avoidair pollution that builds up and creates unhealthy smog when the Bay Area experiences high temperatures.
Spare the Air Alerts are issued when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. Ozone, or smog, can cause throat irritation, congestion, chest pain, trigger asthma, inflamethe lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. Long-term exposure to ozone can reduce lung function. Ozone pollution is particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions. When a Spare the Air Alert is issued, outdoor exercise should be done only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower.
Smog is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, industrial emissions and household chemicals combine with oxygen in the presence of heat and sunlight.
Residents can help Spare the Air by carpooling, taking transit, switching to an electric vehicle, biking or walking. Visit sparetheair.org or 511.org for more information about commute alternatives.

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