|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Air district officials extended a Spare the Air alert through Tuesday as wildfire smoke and haze linger in Bay Area skies.
The region has seen air pollution spike in recent days due to car exhaust, high temperatures and smoke.
“Climate change is impacting our region with more frequent wildfires and heat waves leading to poor air quality,” said Veronica Eady, senior deputy executive officer of the Air District. “We can all help by driving less to reduce smog and improve air quality when respiratory health is top of mind for us all.”
Air pollution can cause throat irritation, congestion, chest pain, trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema, air district officials said.
Long-term exposure to ozone can reduce lung function. Ozone pollution, or smog, is particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions.
When a Spare the Air alert is issued, outdoor exercise should be done only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower.
Air quality readings are available at baaqmd.gov/highs.
People can find out when a Spare the Air alert is in effect by visiting sparetheair.org, calling 800-HELP-AIR (4357-247), downloading the Spare the Air smartphone app for iPhone or Android devices or connecting with Spare the Air on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.
Most Popular
Newcomer David Poll pulls ahead of Brandon Stroy in Los Altos school board raceNovember 7, 2026 4:17 pm
Air Pollution OZONE. Now yet another ‘variable’ for schools to figure out how to control inside classrooms. Some ‘smoke particle OUTSIDE pollution’ (PM2.5) can be controlled and vastly mitigated by recirculating through HVAC system filters (MERV 13 or better). Some COVID virus transmission can also be reduced by the same recirculation [or Outside Air Changes].
But bringing more air / recirculating work counter for Ozone and Smoke Particles!
At a certain point – compromise. (IMO) It is better for kids to ‘lay low’ inside and have recirculating air refiltered / min. new air with OZONE and Smoke. Smoke will be filtered out – otherwise it can permanently sick deep in young lungs. OZONE causes serious but more temporary problems (if not Chronic) and can only be chemically filtered. And COVID? What kid should get stuck with ‘Long’ Covid problems.
This isn`t the first time I see an article like this. And it is truly sad to be the witness of world-changing this way. I recently read about environmental issues at https://studyhippo.com/essay-examples/pollution/ and realized that air and water pollution is one of the most common and dangerous problems. But, nevertheless, these are the problems that we are able to fix a little, including the use of environmentally friendly transport (bicycles or electric cars). Recently I traveled to Turkey (Istanbul) and visited the island, which is located near the city. I was pleasantly surprised, because there is no transport on the island, except for bicycles and small electric vehicles.