Understanding an Air Quality Alert
Do you ever go outside and find it more difficult to breathe? In these situations, cities might put out an air quality alert when it could be dangerous to be outside. Here’s a guide to help you understand what the different air quality alerts mean and what to avoid doing during one.
Types of Air Pollution
Air quality alerts come from things that contribute to pollution, including:
- Ground Level Ozone: The most common cause of air pollution involves pollutants like industrial fumes and car exhaust mixing with oxygen. It decreases air quality and can result in respiratory issues.
- Particle Pollution (Particulate Matter): Particles in the air that act as pollutants and can be hazardous. Often caused by chemical processes, this pollution usually occurs in hot/humid temperatures.
- Carbon Monoxide: In cooler conditions, this odorless, colorless gas is released when carbon fuels do not thoroughly burn. This type of pollution is highly toxic and can result in death.
- Sulfur Dioxide: Found near large industrial complexes, this colorless gas can cause difficulty in breathing.
- Nitrogen Dioxide: When nitrogen and oxygen mix, this polluted gas can create respiratory problems or infections.
Air Quality Index (AQI)
The AQI indicates the different air quality levels, and various colors are used to distinguish the population’s risk level.
- Green: Good quality air with little to no risk.
- Yellow: While this quality is still acceptable for most, people who are very sensitive to air pollution may be impacted.
- Orange: Most of the population will not be impacted, but sensitive groups such as the elderly or those with breathing conditions should avoid staying outside.
- Red: The general population may start feeling health effects and sensitive groups are at serious risk.
- Purple: There is a risk for everyone, and the air quality is unhealthy.
- Maroon: Air quality is hazardous, and an emergency state is put in place.
While color codes Purple & Maroon are very uncommon, lower impacts on air quality are frequently seen. For example, this week, The National Weather Service issued an orange air quality advisory for parts of Northeast Ohio, urging sensitive groups to stay inside.
Things to Avoid During an Air Quality Alert
- Try walking or biking instead of driving a car.
- Avoid extended idling in the car.
- Conserve electricity.
- Avoid mowing your lawn during an alert.
- If you need gas, pump after sundown.
- Avoid using a wood stove or fireplace.
- Do not burn trash, leaves, etc.
- Skip the strenuous activities during an alert.
Click HERE to check out the current air quality in your area!
Kuelewa Alert ya Ubora wa Hewa Je, umewahi kwenda nje na kupata vigumu zaidi kupumua? Katika hali kama hizo, majiji yanaweza kutoa onyo la ubora wa hewa wakati inaweza kuwa hatari kuwa nje. Hapa ni mwongozo wa kukusaidia kuelewa nini tahadhari tofauti za ubora wa hewa zinamaanisha na nini cha kuepuka kufanya wakati wa moja. Aina za uchafuzi wa hewa Alerts ubora wa hewa hutoka kwa mambo ambayo kuchangia uchafuzi, ikiwa ni pamoja na: Ozoni ya ngazi ya ardhi: Sababu ya kawaida ya uchafuzi wa hewa inahusisha uchafuzi kama moshi wa viwanda na kutolea nje ya gari kuchanganya na oksijeni. Inapunguza ubora wa hewa na inaweza kusababisha matatizo ya kupumua. - Particulate Pollution (Particulate Matter): Chembe katika hewa ambayo kutenda kama uchafuzi na inaweza kuwa hatari. Mara nyingi husababishwa na michakato ya kemikali, uchafuzi huu kwa kawaida hutokea katika joto la joto / unyevu. - Kaboni monoksidi: Katika hali baridi, gesi hii isiyo na harufu, isiyo na rangi hutolewa wakati mafuta ya kaboni hayakuwaka kabisa. Aina hii ya uchafuzi ni yenye sumu sana na yaweza kusababisha kifo. - Sulfur Dioxide: Inapatikana karibu na majengo makubwa ya viwanda, gesi hii isiyo na rangi inaweza kusababisha ugumu wa kupumua. - Nitrogen Dioxide: Nitrojeni na oksijeni zinapochanganyika, gesi hii iliyochafuliwa yaweza kusababisha matatizo ya kupumua au maambukizo. Kiwango cha ubora wa hewa (AQI) ni kiwango cha ubora wa hewa ambacho kinatoa alama za ubora wa hewa na viwango vya hatari kwa watu. - Kijani: Hewa ya ubora mzuri na hatari ndogo au hakuna. - Njano: Ingawa ubora huu bado unakubaliwa na wengi, watu ambao ni nyeti sana kwa uchafuzi wa hewa wanaweza kuathiriwa. - Orange: Idadi kubwa ya watu haitaathiriwa, lakini vikundi nyeti kama vile wazee au wale walio na hali ya kupumua wanapaswa kuepuka kukaa nje. - Red: Idadi ya watu kwa ujumla inaweza kuanza kuhisi athari za afya na makundi nyeti ni katika hatari kubwa. - Zambarau: Kuna hatari kwa kila mtu, na ubora wa hewa si mzuri kwa afya. - Maroon: Ubora wa hewa ni hatari, na hali ya dharura ni kuweka katika mahali. Wakati nambari za rangi Purple & Maroon ni nadra sana, athari za chini juu ya ubora wa hewa huonekana mara nyingi. Huduma ya Hali ya Hewa ya Kitaifa (NWS) imetangaza ushauri wa rangi ya machungwa kwa sehemu za kaskazini mashariki mwa Ohio, ikiwahimiza watu walio katika hatari ya kuanguka ndani ya nyumba. Vitu vya Kuepuka Wakati wa Onyo la Ubora wa Hewa - Jaribu kutembea au kuendesha baiskeli badala ya kuendesha gari. - Epuka kukaa kwa muda mrefu ndani ya gari. - Kuokoa umeme. - Epuka kukata nyasi yako wakati wa tahadhari. - Ikiwa unahitaji mafuta, pampu baada ya machweo. - Epuka kutumia jiko la kuni au jiko la moto. - Usichome takwimu, majani, nk. - Epuka shughuli zenye kuchosha wakati wa tahadhari. Bonyeza hapa ili kuangalia ubora wa hewa ya sasa katika eneo lako!