Wouldn’t it be great if every breath filled your lungs with oxygen – not car exhaust, industrial waste or chemical fumes?

U.S. air quality efforts have improved our health and life spans, but many of us still breathe harmful pollution. And even though cities tend to have more pollutants than rural areas, you can’t fully escape the problem by moving to the country. Polluted air can travel hundreds or thousands of miles away from the original source.

Ozone, the main component of smog, poses the highest risk to:

• Children and teens.
• Adults ages 65 and older.
• People with existing lung diseases, such as asthma
• Those who work or exercise outdoors.

But ozone can harm anyone who spends time outside where pollution levels are high.

Protecting Yourself

When air pollution peaks, symptoms can include throat irritation, chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing. But even at levels high enough to cause health problems, air pollution may not lead to symptoms. It’s up to you to stay alert.
Visit www.airnow.gov and enter your ZIP code to learn your area’s daily air pollution level. If your location regularly exposes you to air pollution, take these steps:

• Monitor the air quality index (AQI) through your local media or the AirNow website.
• Stay indoors when the AQI tops 100.
• Limit heavy outdoor exertion when air pollution is high.
• Ask your healthcare provider how to protect yourself, especially if you have heart or lung trouble.

Clearing the Air

Here are other ways you can help reduce air pollution:

• Limit your driving. Try carpooling, walking, cycling or using public transportation.
• When you drive, go easy on the gas. Stick to the speed limit, get regular engine tune-ups and combine errands.
• Buy a fuel-efficient, low-emission vehicle. For more information, see www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.
• Choose green appliances and household products. Visit www.energystar.gov to get started.
• Reduce home energy use. Raise the thermostat in summer, lower it in winter. Turn off lights when you leave a room, buy energy-efficient light bulbs and insulate your home.
• Recycle plastic, glass, paper, aluminum and cardboard whenever possible. Recycling reduces the need to collect new raw materials, which helps save energy and prevent pollution.

How Much Do You Know About Air Pollution? Test Your Knowledge

1. Urban ozone pollution peaks on cloudy, windy days.   
         True                         False
2. Gasoline-powered lawn mowers are significant sources of air pollution.   
         True                         False
3. The ozone layer high above the earth worsens air pollution.   
         True                         False
4. The faster you breathe, the more pollution you take into your lungs.   
         True                         False
5. Some household products contribute to air pollution.   
         True                         False

Answers

1. False. Ozone levels tend to rise in cities on warm days when the sun is bright and the air is still.
2. True. Opt for electric and battery-powered machines instead.
3. False. The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere shields us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. It’s ground-level ozone – created when sunlight causes certain pollutants in the air to react – that poses a danger.
4. True. That’s why you should limit outdoor exertion when air pollution reaches unhealthy levels.
5. True. Many household products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), an ingredient of smog. The list includes paints, paint strippers and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; and air fresheners.