What You Can Do About Poor Air Quality Days

According to the >Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, today and tomorrow, June 23 and 24, 2010 are Code Orange days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast is “Unhealthly for Sensitive Groups”.

AQI Color Codes:
Green = Good
Yellow = Moderate
Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Red = unhealthy air for everyone
Purple = Very Unhealthy conditions

The AQI tells you how polluted your air is and alerts you to the health effects that can happen within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EPA uses the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Groups which need to be careful outdoors include children, the elderly, outdoor workers and people exercising. Repeated exposure to ozone pollution may cause permanent damage to the lungs.

Let’s hope we don’t have many Red or Purple days this summer. Here are some tips from the Environmental Protection Agency on how you can keep the air clean:

• Try not to gas up on other ozone action days. If you must, gas up in the early morning or wait until the evening. Gasoline vapors are harmful to you and the environment. Not only are they toxic to breathe, they contribute to ozone formation in the atmosphere. Since gasoline vapor production increases during the hot summer months, it is important to be careful when refueling your vehicle. Make sure you secure the gas cap after refueling to prevent vapors from escaping.
• When you travel try taking a bus, train, bike, or walking. This simple action can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 1,500 pounds each year. It’s summertime, which means that weather conditions are favorable for ground-level ozone formation. Emissions from motor vehicles are the primary source of ozone-causing pollutants, accounting for almost half of our air pollution. Because heat and sunlight are important factors in ozone formation, ozone pollution generally peaks during the months of April through October, on hot, sunny days with little or no wind and no precipitation.
• When it’s time, replace your vehicle with a fuel-efficient model. You may be surprised to know that you have cleaner more fuel-efficient choices in any vehicle size you need, even an SUV. Find out for yourself. Go to the Green Vehicle Guide to find the cleanest, most fuel efficient vehicle that meets your needs.
• Encourage your employer to become part of Best Workplaces for Commuters, a recognition and partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation that encourages employers to offer their employees an outstanding level of commuter benefits such as tax-free transit passes, vanpool benefits, or telecommuting. If you want to know how your organization can participate, email the program, call the Best Workplaces Hotline at 1-888-856-3131, or visit the Best Workplaces for Commuters Web site.
• Look for the “Energy Star” label when you buy new appliances. Depending on the appliance, products with this label will consume between 13% and 40% less energy than conventional appliances.
• Enroll in a clean energy program. More and more utilities across the country are offering consumers the option of having some or all of their household or business energy purchased from renewable energy resources such as solar, wind and biomass.
• To save gasoline and money during those long vacation trips, keep your car tuned, your tires properly inflated, and drive carefully.

We all cause the poor air quality in our region but we can take action to improve the situation. If you have any other ideas, let us know.

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