Have you ever wondered what you can personally do to help reduce the poor air quality?

Its easier than you think! If we all take these simple steps to reduce poor air quality, our lungs can breathe easier.

Understanding the factors of the air quality around us is important to our health. Even though we may only think of poor air quality during an inversion, we should be aware of pollution everyday. The air is different everyday because the makeup of the air varies. There can be high ozone level days and high particle level days.  We can do specific things on those particular days to reduce the poor air quality.  

What You Can Do To Help Reduce Poor Air Quality

Everyday

  • Conserve energy – remember to turn off lights and electronics when they are not in use
  • Limit driving – carpool, take public transportation, ride a bicycle or walk whenever possible
  • Combine errands for fewer trips
  • Be careful to not spill fuel and always tighten your gas cap securely
  • Make sure to keep up on the maintenance of all engines (car, boat, etc.)
  • Run your dishwasher and washing machine when they are full
  • Use environmentally safe cleaning products and paint

High Ozone Level Days

  • Share a ride to work or use public transportation
  • Reduce trips – combine trips or walk to errands when possible
  • Avoid excessive idling of your car
  • Inflate tires to the recommended pressure
  • Refuel your car in the evening when it’s cooler

High Particle Level Days

  • Reduce the number of trips in your car
  • Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use
  • Avoid burning leaves, trash, and other materials
  • Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment

How Do I Know When It Is A High Ozone or High Particle Level Day?

With the myAir app you are able to have air quality information at the touch of your fingertips. The myAir app gives you the ozone level and the particle level every day (see images below).

Ozone Level

Screenshot of ozone level taken from myAir app.

Particle Level

Screenshot of particle level taken from myAir app.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Latest Conditions” is where you can view the current ozone and particle level.

Air Quality

Screenshot of air quality taken from myAir app.

The app uses the air quality index (AQIto report how concerning the air pollutants are at that very moment. The index is as follows:

  • Good 0-50 (highlighted green)
  • Moderate 51-100 (highlighted yellow)
  • Unhealthy for sensitive groups 101-150 (highlighted orange)
  • Unhealthy 151-200 (highlighted red)
  • Very unhealthy 201-300 (highlighted purple)
  • Hazardous 301-500 (highlighted maroon)

Using those real-time ozone and particle levels, the myAir app can tell you how long you should be outdoors. Not only that, myAir personalizes that time specifically for you. The app does this by factoring in your age, gender, weight, height, fitness level, exertion level, and respiratory symptoms.

In order to enjoy more time outside, remember to use these tips to help reduce pollutants in the air.