Air Quality And You - Why It Matters
Many people suffer the effects of poor air quality on a daily basis but more so when temperatures heat up or when the weather is influencing the pollution concentration.
Some facts about air quality from the American Lung Association include:
- More than 4 out of 10 people live where the air they breathe earned an “F” in the State of the Air 2017.
- Breathing ozone irritates the lungs, which is almost like bad sunburn inside the lungs.
- When you live near a busy highway, the traffic pollution form the vehicles can cause harm to your lungs.
- Those with higher risk of lung damage during bad air quality times are the elderly, infants and people with asthma.
- Ozone and particle pollution are both linked to low birth weight in babies
- Those with diabetes, asthma and heart disease are at a greater risk of early death when exposed to bad air quality.
Drought-stricken areas can also have a big influence on the air quality. When a region has not had enough rain to quench the soil, particles are easier to kick up in high winds, sometimes causing dust storms. These are more likely in the desert but can happen even on the smallest scales like on dusty baseball fields.
Those in dry and windy regions, like California or Florida, have to deal with wildfires. These unpredictable fires can spread quickly, shooting plumes of smoke into the air. Smoke is one of the biggest polluters and can give your eyes a burning sensation when near the wildfire. The smoke is also filled with a high concentration of particles that can irritate your lungs.
Ways to protect you and your family on bad air quality days include staying indoors with the air conditioning on, keeping any outdoor activities to a minimum and staying off the busy polluted streets. Having the windows open can filter any air contamination indoors making breathing difficult.
---
Source: American Lung Association
---
Story Image: Los Angeles smog seen in September 2011. (Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)