Air District Issues 'Spare the Air' Smog Alert for Wednesday

The public is encouraged to drive less and cut down on energy use to reduce pollution Wednesday – the area's eighth "spare the air" smog alert of the year.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the year's fifth "spare the air" alert for today because of unhealthy smog levels.

"Due to the amount of air pollution we generate daily by driving and from other sources, unhealthy levels of smog are expected to accompany high temperatures,” said Jack Broadbent, the district's executive officer. “We urge Bay Area residents to make clean air choices like driving less."

Car exhaust, industrial emisions and chemicals from around the house contain volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides that mix with oxygen under heat and sunlight to create low-lying ozone.

Breathing in that ozone may trigger throat irritation, chest pain and congestion. It aggravates asthma, inflames lung linings and exacerbate emphysema and bronchitis, according to the air district.

Seniors and young children are especially at risk from pollution damage. Limit exercise to early morning or evening hours on days like today when the smog levels are deemed unhealthy, the air distirct says.

The district suggests the following ways to do your part:

• Take public transit

• Work at home or telecommute

• Carpool and link your errands to reduce driving

• Avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers

• Reduce household energy use

• Don’t use lighter fluid on the barbecue

• Avoid using aerosol spray cleaners, paints and hairspray

• Bike to work or around town

For more info, go to www.baaqmd.gov or www.sparetheair.org.