According to the officials in charge of air quality, the first Spare the Air notice of the year has been issued for ozone in the Bay Area on Friday. This advisory is issued because it is anticipated that temperatures in the inland region that are in the triple digits will combine with exhaust from motor vehicles to produce high levels of the hazardous pollutant.
The warning was issued by the Bay Area Air District because it is anticipated that the air quality in the region will be bad due to ozone, which is also generally referred to as smog.
As a result of its ability to irritate the throat, produce congestion, and cause chest pain, ozone is especially hazardous for young children, elderly adults, and people who have diseases related to their respiratory system or heart. Officials from the air district advised that on days designated as “Spare the Air,” individuals should only engage in physical activity outside during the early morning hours, when ozone concentrations are at their lowest.
Signing up for text alerts by sending “START” to 81757, calling (877) 4NO-BURN, visiting www.sparetheair.org or www.baaqmd.gov, signing up for email notifications at sparetheair.org/alerts, or downloading the Spare the Air smartphone app are all ways for anyone to learn information about when a Spare the Air alert is in effect.
