The Bay Area Air Quality Management District raised the fifth Spare the Air Alert for smog for the year 2015. As a surge of heat wave is expected to occur at the Bay Area starting on Monday, Sept 7, 2015, air quality is said to be under a compromised state.
Through Spare the Air Alert, members of the public are asked to postpone or minimize tasks that can help heighten air pollution such as driving, utilizing gasoline-operated machines, painting with oil-based materials or using aerosol products like household cleaning sprays.
Burning of wood during the entire duration of the alert is also prohibited. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District will be collecting increased fines for people who will be caught violating the rule. From $400 in 2014, the fine for those who will be caught for the second time will be increased to $500. Meanwhile, first-time offenders will be given the choice to pay a $100 fine or read about then get examined on the dangers of wood smoke to human health.
"Motor vehicle exhaust is the number one source of smog-forming pollution, so we're asking Bay Area residents to share rides, take transit, bike or walk to help keep pollution levels down so that we can all breathe easier" said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District in a statement.
Some of the things that individuals may do to help clean the air and improve its overall quality include walking or biking to work, taking public transportation services, engaging in work-from-home jobs, devising a systematic plan for outdoor errands, encouraging carpool among friends and co-workers, decrease utilization of household energy, avoiding lighter fluid when grilling outside and using products that are not aerosol-based.
Air pollution is a rampant environmental problem all over the world. When pollutants such as exhaust of vehicles, industrial emissions, gasoline products and household products that contain harmful chemicals mix with oxygen under extremely high temperatures, this may result in the formation of ozone on the ground. People are then put at risk of inhaling ozone, which may lead to chest pains, throat damages and congestion. Those who have a history of asthma may be triggered to have an attack. Exposed individuals may also experience swelling of the lung linings and those who have respiratory conditions such as emphysema and bronchitis may be put on worse states.
Ozone pollution in the long-term may further decrease the functionality of the lungs. Those who are too young or too old and are diagnosed with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases may particularly be more at risk if heightened ozone pollution takes place.
The concentration of ozone is lowest during the early morning thus, experts advise people to perform demanding outdoor activities during this time. Continuous monitoring of air quality is performed by the Air District; detecting extremely unhealthy ozone levels urges authorities to raise the Spare the Air alert.
Spare the Air for smog happens from May to October and the winter version occurs from November to February of the following year.
Photo: Hector Alejandro | Flickr
