Frequently Asked Questions about Air Quality
1. What is “ozone” and what causes it and what is "particle pollution" and what causes it?
2. How does air pollution affect me?
3. How do I know if air pollution concentrations are high?
4. What is asthma and how does air pollution affect it?
5. What's being done to correct the problem?
6. What actions can I take to help?
What is “ozone” and what causes it?
Ozone is actually three atoms of oxygen (chemical formula 03)
There are really two types of ozone:
- “Good” ozone, known as the “ozone layer,” protects the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. This is called stratospheric ozone. When you hear about scientists working to save the ozone layer, it’s because it provides this much-needed protection.
- “Bad” ozone, commonly known as smog, is at ground-level in many urban areas. On hot, sunny days when there is little or no wind, pollutants from vehicle emissions collect in a stagnant air mass and react in the strong sunlight to form ground-level ozone. Other gasoline-powered items, such as lawnmowers, chainsaws and weed whackers, add to the problem. Most small gasoline-powered engines do not include pollution control devices. As a result, using this type of equipment can add substantially to the problem.
Particle pollution consists of the solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Individually, these particles/droplets are invisible to the naked eye, but collectively, they can appear as clouds or a fog-like haze.
This tiny matter, less than 2.5 microns in diameter, is also known as PM 2.5, and can get deep into people's lungs. Particle pollution comes from many different sources including wood burning, diesel and gasoline-powered engines, factories and power plants. When inhaled, particle pollution can damage lung tissue, aggravate asthma, bronchitis and heart diseases - even cause premature death.
How does air pollution affect me?
Air pollution is bad for your health. It is particularly harmful to young children, the elderly, people with heart, lung or respiratory problems. Air pollution irritates mucous membranes and causes coughing and wheezing. If you have breathing problems such as asthma or allergies, it is recommended that you stay indoors
when air pollution concentrations are high.
How do I know if air pollution concentrations are high?
Year-round, the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA) monitors the Miami Valley’s air pollution levels. When there is a potential for high concentrations of air pollution, an "Air Pollution Advisory" notice may be issued. You’ll be alerted by the local media to take action to help reduce air pollution. If you prefer, you can receive e-mail notifications when an "Air Pollution Advisory” notice has been issued. Register HERE for this FREE notification service.
What is asthma and how does air pollution affect it?
Asthma is a lung disease. It can be life threatening. Asthma is a growing threat to children and adults. Children make up 25 percent of the population and comprise 40 percent of the asthma cases. The average adult breathes 13,000 liters of air per day. Children breathe even more air per pound of body weight than adults.
Because children's respiratory systems are still developing, they are more susceptible than adults to environmental threats.
Fourteen Americans die every day from asthma, a rate three times greater than just 20 years ago. African-Americans die at a rate six times that of Caucasians. For asthmatics having an attack, the pathways of the lungs become so narrow that breathing becomes akin to sucking a thick milk shake through a straw.
Air pollution can aggravate asthma, causing more asthma attacks, increased use of medication, more medical treatment and more visits to hospital emergency clinics.
What's being done to correct the problem?
The Miami Valley region is required by the federal Clean Air Act to have a plan to keep the air clean. One part of the plan calls for residents to take action to reduce air pollution. Many local industries are already doing their part by upgrading their facilities, but everyone’s help is needed to achieve clean air.
There are several agencies working together to address air quality/air pollution issues. The Miami Valley Air Quality Program was developed as an outreach program to help educate the public about air quality and ozone issues.
Members of the Miami Valley Air Quality Program included the following:
- The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC)
- The Regional Air Pollution Control Agency (RAPCA)
- The Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee (CCSTCC)
- The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (GDRTA)
- The Springfield City Area Transit
- The Downtown Dayton Partnership
What actions can I take to help?
By changing your behavior slightly, you can play a part in reducing air pollution. Following any or all of these suggested actions can really make a difference:
- Try carpooling/vanpooling to work or college. Fewer vehicles on the road mean less ground-level ozone. Call RIDESHARE at (937) 223-SAVE or 1-800-743-SAVE to register for a free matchlist of potential carpoolers/vanpoolers. Check out www.miamivalleyrideshare.org and sign up online.
- Try riding the bus. The Greater Dayton RTA serves Montgomery County and all fixed-route buses have bike racks on them. You can bring your bike along and really be multi-modal.
- Get your car tuned up. A tuned engine produces lower emissions, runs more efficiently, and makes your car last longer.
- Mow your lawn and use other gasoline-powered equipment only after 6:00 p.m., when temperatures are cooler and smog is less likely to form. Or, try using battery-powered lawn equipment instead.
- When filling up at the gasoline station, don’t top-off your tank. Try to refuel after 6:00 p.m. when smog is less likely to form. Plus, make sure your gasoline cap fits tightly so vapors don’t escape. A leaking or missing gas cap can cost you almost $35 a year in lost gasoline through evaporation. While you’re losing gasoline, the emissions add to the air pollution problem.
- Avoid letting your car idle. For example, turn off the engine while waiting at drive-thru windows.
- If you have more than one car, use the newest one most often. Newer cars tend to produce fewer emissions than older cars.
- Avoid jackrabbit accelerations when driving. You'll produce fewer emissions and be a safer driver too.
- Plan ahead and combine errands and trips so you can limit cold starts. Delay running errands until evening.
- Walk or ride a bike instead of driving. You'll get the double benefit of doing something that's good for the air and for your health.
- Eliminate outdoor burning - do not burn leaves, wood or trash. Mulch or compost leaves/yard waste.
- Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use. Consider retrofitting wood stoves with a filter or use gas logs instead of wood.
- Consider high efficiency/HEPA filters for your indoor heating/air conditioning systems. Reduce the amount of indoor air pollution to alleviate breathing problems.
