Pollution In Jefferson County: Public Health Officials Offer Tips

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — Jefferson County is the 12th worst county in the United States for high ozone days, according to the American Lung Association. Residents in Denver's metro area are among the more than 40 percent of Americans living in an area with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution.

There are ways that residents can protect themselves when air quality is poor, Jefferson County Public Health said.

“Poor air quality can cause a number of health concerns and aggravate existing health problems, especially for people who have chronic respiratory conditions like asthma or other lung diseases," said Jim Rada, environmental health director at the agency.

"Breathing bad air is also especially harmful for older adults, babies and children and people who spend a lot of time working or exercising outdoors. Prolonged exposure can cause short- and long-term lung damage. Luckily, there are some things residents can do to protect their health when Air Quality Health Advisories and Ozone Action Alerts are issued.”

Jefferson County Public Health issued the following tips when air quality is poor:

• Spend more time indoors, where wildfire smoke and ozone levels are lower.
• Exercise indoors. If you must exercise outdoors, choose easier activities — like walking instead of running — so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Plan outdoor activities at times when ozone levels are lower, which is usually in the morning and evening.

Ozone pollution, often called smog, forms when gases that come out of tailpipes and smokestacks, among other sources, come into contact with sunlight. Ozone is "one of the most dangerous and widespread pollutants in the U.S.," the lung association said.

Ozone can damage people's airways, make their lungs more susceptible to infection and aggravate lung diseases, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Don’t miss the latest news updates in Denver, Boulder, Arvada, Lakewood and Littleton. Sign up for free Patch news alerts and newsletters for what you need to know daily.

“Summertime ground-level ozone is our region’s most critical air quality issue,” said Mike Silverstein, executive director of the Regional Air Quality Council. “Together, we can take some simple steps to help reduce ground-level ozone and improve our region’s air quality.”

The council and public health officials offer steps residents can take to improve air quality:

• Skip two car trips each week and replace them with other ways to get around, like walking, riding a bike or using an e-scooter.
• If you have to drive, combine car trips. For example, pick one day each week to run errands. You can also carpool with others to reduce cars on the road.
• Telework when possible. Working from home can be a great way to reduce car trips and air pollution.
• Avoid idling. When you are stopped for more than 60 seconds, turn your engine off to prevent pollution and save on gas.
• Mow your lawn after 5 p.m. to prevent ground-level ozone.
• Refuel your car after 5 p.m. and “stop at the click” to prevent gasoline vapors from turning into air pollution.
• Order online and bundle deliveries for after 5 p.m. to reduce car trips.

>> More information about how to improve air quality can be found here.