SF Bay Area Spare the Air Tuesday July 28 2015

The San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced the first Summer Spare the Air Alert of 2015 for Tuesday, July 28 2015. Concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution are forecast to be unhealthy tomorrow.


smog

Residents are encouraged to drive less and reduce their energy use tomorrow and every day so pollution levels are lower, preventing health alerts when temperatures are high.

Because high ozone levels damage the lungs and irritate mucous membranes, the Air District tells us that “vigorous outdoor exercise should be undertaken only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower.” To help reduce ozone levels, the Air District says to take one for the team and “bike to work or around town.” You can also take public transit, telecommute, carpool and link your errands to reduce driving, avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers, reduce household energy use, don’t use lighter fluid on the barbecue, avoid using aerosol spay products like hairspray or spray paint.

Ozone levels are expected to be especially high in Santa Clara Valley, with a forecast Air Quality Index (AQI) of 104. This translates to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.” Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit outdoor exertion.

Moderately bad air quality is forecast for the North Counties, the Peninsula, and inland portions of the East Bay. Good air quality is forecast for the Pacific Coast, San Francisco, and most of the East Bay directly on the Bay.

Photo: “Smog and one of its biggest contributors as seen from the Doubletree Hotel, San Jose, CA” by NZ Dave / CC BY-NC-ND.

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