How To Reduce Your Exposure To Air Pollution In The Bay Area

Air pollution remains a growing concern, especially in communities across the Bay Area including San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Not only can poor air quality affect the environment, it can also have negative health effects on humans — especially older adults, children and active adults.

Read on to discover what counts as air pollution, how to limit your exposure to air pollution in the Bay Area and ways to reduce air pollution in general.

What Is Air Pollution?

Air pollution occurs when various pollutants are released into the air, making that air less healthy to breathe. Common pollutants include gases and chemicals released from burning fossil fuels, as well as allergenic air pollutants like mold and pollen. Exposure to air pollution has been linked to a range of negative health outcomes, including increased risk for lung and heart disease.

Individuals with pre-existing lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, may be especially sensitive to even moderate levels of air pollution. The use of inhalers, nebulizers and other medications can help manage symptoms, particularly in areas with increased air pollution. If you’re looking for the best prices for inhalers or other prescription medication, you can save money by comparing prices at your local pharmacies on GoodRx.

What Causes Air Pollution In The Bay Area?

A significant cause of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels, which releases chemicals and gases into the air. Power plants and other industrial sources, vehicles, construction equipment and even residential wood burning all contribute to air pollution in the Bay Area.

Another major contributor to Bay Area air pollution is ozone, also known as smog. Ozone is harmful because it attacks lung tissue when inhaled. It is one of the most dangerous, widespread and least-controlled pollutants. Ground-level ozone forms in the atmosphere when certain gases — typically the ones that come from burning fossil fuels — react with sunlight.

Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution poses serious health threats. Poor air quality can aggravate asthma or allergy attacks, as well as lead to respiratory irritation and reduced lung function. Exposure to air pollution has also been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attacks and strokes.

How Can I Reduce My Exposure To Air Pollution?

If you live in the Bay Area, you may not be able to avoid air pollution entirely. However, there are several steps you can take to reduce your exposure.

Check Daily Pollution Forecasts

Just as you might consult the weather forecast before going outside, you can also look up daily pollution forecasts before starting your day. Check online at airnow.gov or consult your local news channel, radio station or newspaper. These sources will use the Air Quality Index (AQI) Scale, visually represented with color-coding, to quickly convey how much air pollution is present.

If the AQI shows green (good) or yellow (moderate), it’s typically safe to be active outside. If it’s orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) or red (unhealthy), consider staying outside for shorter durations. Limit outdoor activity as much as possible on purple (very unhealthy) or maroon (hazardous) days.

Consider An Air Purifier

Whether you choose to open your window for circulation or keep it closed to limit exposure to outdoor pollutants, an air purifier can improve your immediate air quality. There are several different varieties of air filters designed to remove certain pollutants from the air. HEPA filters are a great tool to remove particles, while carbon filters can remove airborne chemicals and certain organic gaseous air pollutants.

Stay Indoors On Bad Pollution Days

If the AQI indicates unhealthy or hazardous air quality, consider staying indoors to limit exposure to air pollution. Exercise indoors and only go outside when absolutely necessary. If outdoor activities cannot be moved inside or rescheduled, complete them in the morning when ozone levels tend to be lower.

Staying indoors on bad pollution days is especially important for older adults, children and active adults. Those with underlying health conditions that predispose them to air pollution sensitivity should consider staying indoors at unsafe AQI levels for their conditions.

Avoid Exercising Near Where Pollution Is Highest

Even if your local air quality forecast is good, areas with high pollution can significantly affect the surrounding air quality. For example, highways can generate high air pollution levels as far as one-third of a mile away.

If you live near a busy road or power plant, consider taking your workouts indoors or farther away from these high-pollution locations. If this isn’t an option for you, reduce the intensity of your workout and monitor for symptoms such as coughing or difficulty breathing.

Wear A Mask

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, some people living in high-pollution areas opted to wear face masks. Now, with masks being more affordable and widely available than ever, wearing a mask can be a simple way to limit your exposure to air pollution.

To gain the most benefit, ensure that your mask has both a strong seal and sufficient ventilation. A disposable or reusable fabric mask will typically be sufficient to protect against gaseous pollutants, but an N95 mask will provide the best protection against particles.

Simple Ways To Reduce Air Pollution

Making these seven small changes can help reduce the amount of pollution that enters the air in the first place — especially in high-risk locations like the Bay Area — and create a cleaner environment for all.

• Burn less wood. Burning wood releases smoke that is composed of gases and fine particles. Burn your wood efficiently by using dry, seasoned wood as well as EPA-certified wood-burning appliances. Alternatively, consider switching over to gas logs.
• Drive less. Reduce your gas emissions by walking or biking when possible.
• Carpool. If you and another person are headed to the same destination, set up a carpool to reduce the number of cars on the road.
• Use public transportation. Public transportation, including buses and trains, can help you easily cut down on your gas consumption.
• Conserve energy at the home and office. Turn off lights and appliances that aren’t in use, and keep up with HVAC maintenance to ensure that heating and cooling are as efficient as possible.
• Wait until evening to refuel your car and do lawn maintenance. Hold off on these activities until the evening, when it’s cooler and fewer pollutant-culprits (such as cars and factories) are in use.
• Stop smoking. Quitting smoking not only reduces the amount of air pollution, but it also can reverse its associated negative lung and cardiovascular effects.

If you suffer from asthma or another respiratory disease, GoodRx can help you save money on inhalers, nebulizers and other prescription medications that can help you breathe easier in cities with high air pollution. Visit GoodRx to compare prescription prices and find the best deals in the Bay Area.

Download the GoodRx app or use their drug search tool on GoodRx.com to find the lowest price for your prescriptions.