What’s better than a beautiful, summer day in Spokane? We do have to pay attention to days that can get too hot and/or too smoky to be outside. But overall, most of us will agree that it’s hard to beat Spokane in the summer!
Besides heat and smoke, another summer visitor that can interrupt our outdoor adventures is ozone pollution.
What is ozone and where does it come from?
Ozone can be good or bad depending on where it is found in the Earth’s atmosphere:
“Good ozone” is found in the upper atmosphere and provides us protection from the sun’s UV radiation.
“Bad ozone” forms on the hot, sunny days and breathing it can be harmful to your lungs. Unlike most air pollutants, nothing “emits” ozone into the ambient (outdoor) air. Rather, it’s formed in the atmosphere by a photochemical reaction! The chemicals—nitrogen oxides (NOx)and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—come from transportation, household chemicals and industrial processes. VOCs are also naturally found in the air. Because ozone pollution peaks on the hottest days of summer, it’s another good reason to spend more time indoors in a cool, clean air space.
Why should I be concerned about ozone?
Breathing ozone pollution is harmful to our lungs, so it’s another reason to take breaks inside on the hottest days of summer. Exposure to elevated levels of ozone pollution can cause respiratory problems and aggravate asthma in children. Even healthy adults can experience a reduction in their lung function from exposure to ozone pollution. During the summer, it’s important to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) and take the appropriate precautions.
What can I do to help reduce Spokane’s ozone pollution?
We’re glad you asked! We can take actions to keep ozone-forming chemicals out of the air, by choosing to:
- Stop at the gas station on the way home from work, rather than in the morning. This helps reduce VOCs and NOx in the air during the daytime when ozone is forming.
- Hold off using gas-powered lawn equipment until evening or a cooler day, for the same reason stated above.
- Switch to manual or electric-powered yard and garden tools instead of gasoline-powered.
- Watch labels. Don’t purchase consumer items (paints, solvents, cleaners) with Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).
- Use an electric probe to start your charcoal barbecue, instead of lighter fluid which is full of ozone-forming chemicals.
- Drive less by combining errands and sharing rides.
You may think your actions don’t matter, but it all adds up to cleaner air (and cleaner lungs!) Learn more about ozone.
