Our air quality matters for everyone

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Summer days in the Greater Philadelphia area can get pretty hot. And with the heat often comes poor air quality. That means we all need to check the daily air quality forecast and take action to protect our lungs, and the health of our family and friends, especially if they have existing respiratory issues like asthma.

And with all the festivities going on here this summer—like the FIFA games, the MLB All-Star game, golf matches, and of course America's 250th anniversary—we all need to be diligent about how we travel to and from these events, and the time we spend outdoors.

Why is air quality an issue mostly in the summer? The longer days of bright sunshine and higher temperatures help "bake" pollutants from our cars, trucks, and even gas-powered lawn mowers into harmful ground-level ozone. Unlike the ozone layer in the atmosphere, ground-level ozone is bad for our lungs when inhaled, and is especially harmful to older adults with reduced lung capacity, and to children whose lungs are still developing. Those who already have respiratory conditions like asthma are also more susceptible to lung damage from summer air pollution. See who's most at risk here.

Add to that periods of worsened air quality due to smoke and soot (called "particle pollution") that can drift into our area from wildfires far away, and the problem can be compounded. The good news is that we can all take positive actions to protect our family's lung health and to reduce those harmful pollutants in the first place.

Check the daily forecast. Every day the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) publishes an air quality forecast that is color coded to communicate the day's levels of air pollution. The forecast follows the common "green is good", "yellow is moderate", "orange is a warning", and "red is unhealthy" color scheme. (There can even be an occasional, very serious Code Purple day!) You can follow the daily air forecast or sign up for free text or email alerts at www.AirQualityPartnership.org.

Take action to protect your health. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published recommendations on how to protect yourself and your family's lungs when outdoor air is expected to be unhealthy. The CDC recommendations also offer suggestions on how to exercise safely outside when the air quality is poor.

Avoid unnecessary car trips whenever possible - take transit or share a ride to work or a common destination.

• If you must drive,
        ◦ try to "link" your shorter trips to avoid cold starts - and don't idle.
        ◦ refuel early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperature is lower, and don't "top off" your tank
        ◦ keep your tires properly inflated and remove unnecessary items from your trunk.

• Postpone mowing the lawn with a gas-powered mower and avoid using your fire pit until the air improves.

• Try to combine or bundle online orders so fewer deliveries are needed.

Practicing these simple steps on Air Quality Alert days can turn into good habits that improve the air we breathe every day, all year long. Being aware of outdoor air quality, and sharing this information with family members, co-workers, and your community, is a great step towards protecting everyone's health, and our environment.