Blog

It’s sunny, warm and a mostly wind-free day. What could be better weather for spending time outside in the sunshine? But before you plan that walk, bike ride, picnic, or want to spend extended time outdoors for gardening or cooking out, there’s an important health check to make.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that an often-overlooked and occasional downer to summertime enjoyment is poor air quality, which can aggravate asthma and affect those with any type of respiratory weakness - especially the very young and our senior population. And the culprits are typically ground-level ozone and airborne particles, two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in the United States.

Our communities have ongoing and careful monitoring of air quality, called ozone action alerts. Ozone, also known as smog, irritates the respiratory system. Ozone is formed when a mixture of air pollutants “bake” in the hot, summer sun. Exposure to high ozone levels can cause shortness of breath, pain with deep inhalation often referenced as chest tightness, coughing and wheezing, phlegm, headaches, nausea, and eye and throat irritation. In other words, pollution can really wreak havoc on people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children.

The irony of ozone is that it is often at its unhealthiest levels on days considered the most beautiful in which to be outdoors. Pollutants, released from sources such as automobiles and factories, exacerbate the situation. When ozone levels are high, the forecast usually calls for sunshine, clear sky, temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and little or no wind.

Ozone’s highest levels usually occur between the hottest times of the day, typically between noon and 6 p.m., from May through September. Meteorologists can predict high ozone days, because weather influences of the formation of ground-level ozone. The key is to be informed and aware, and to plan activities accordingly. That’s not to say that most people cannot be outdoors on high ozone days. Morning hours are best for being outside, and if outside in the afternoon, avoid strenuous activities or exertion.

Know the EPA’s color system for reporting the local Air Quality Index:

• Good/green: Air quality is considered good or satisfactory.
• Moderate/yellow: Air quality is acceptable, but there could be some pollutants that can present a possible health concern for certain people.
• Unhealthy for sensitive groups/orange: For individuals with sensitivities such as asthma or lung or heart concerns, extended outdoor time should be avoided. For most people, the air quality is safe.
• Unhealthy/red: Prolonged outdoor exposure should be avoided by most people.
• Very unhealthy/purple: If this level is reported, the best advice is to stay indoors. You can always plan outdoor fun at a safer and healthier time!

Check out AIRNow for more information.