Spare the Air Day Gets an Extension

While many people in Sonoma County might not have been aware, Tuesday was a Spare the Air day in the Bay Area and some of our surrounding counties. During the summer the Air District will post Spare the Air Alerts on days when smog becomes a pollution problem, more so than normal. On these days people are urged to cut back on any sort of activities that cause pollution.

These activities include driving, using gas-powered lawn care equipment, using household aerosol products, or oil based paints.

The initial alert for Tuesday, July 10 has been extended to include today, July 11.

People who are overly sensitive to unhealthy air or who have breathing related health problems should avoid outdoor time due to air quality, especially in the afternoon hours. Smog can trigger asthma as well as cause throat irritation.

These unhealthy instances are a combination of hot weather, light winds, and clear skies that work together to create ozone concentrations that go above the federal health-based standards for clean air. For more information on Spare the Air, visit their website.

Ways to reduce pollution would be to walk or bike to work. Also carpooling or using public transportation helps eliminate excess car pollution. While Sonoma County does not have the same smog issues as the nearby Bay Area, helping increase the quality of our air is always a good idea.

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