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Spare the Air season upon us
| Sunday, Jun 4 2006 11:15 PM
Last Updated: Sunday, Jun 4 2006 11:19 PM
Spare the Air season is upon us, a summer tradition aimed at warning people when smog gets dangerous, and asking them to change their habits to make sure it doesn't get worse.
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Ozone, smog's chief ingredient, is always going to bother some people, especially those with asthma and other lung ailments. But enough ozone can harm the pinkest lungs, and when the air gets too brown, valley air regulators declare a Spare the Air day. Here's a rundown of the Spare the Air program:
Q: What is ozone?
Ozone is formed when pollution from cars, trucks, refineries, power plants, industrial operations and other sources react in the heat of the sun. Ozone aggravates asthma, reduces lung function and could cause permanent lung damage.
Q: What should I do to protect myself?
Avoid outdoor exertion, especially in the middle of the day.
Q: What is Spare the Air season?
Spare the Air season is a voluntary program in which the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District sends out an alert if the next day's smog levels are expected to be unhealthy for everyone. The season starts Tuesday and runs through September.
Q: How many Spare the Air days should we expect?
A typical Kern season has between 20 and 45 Spare the Air days. Last year Kern had 18, down from 27 in 2004 and 41 in 2003.
Q: Why was last season so mild? Is the air getting better?
Air officials hope so. Last summer was warm enough to cook up standard amounts of smog, but it didn't, said Brenda Turner, spokeswoman for the valley air district. One year can't prove a trend, but air regulators hope their pollution-cutting measures are finally paying off. Last year, the San Joaquin Valley spent 72 days in violation of federal smog standards, down from 109 days in 2004.
Q: How do I find out if it's a Spare the Air day?
Check The Californian's weather page, or visit www.valleyair.org.
Q: What should I do to minimize smog pollution?
* Shop on the Internet.
* Link trips instead of running separate errands.
* Car pool.
* Recycle.
* Use an electric starter instead of lighter fluid to start your barbecue.
* Don't top off your gas tank.
* Trade in your old car for a newer one.
* Install energy-efficient appliances.
* Walk to lunch.
* Don't ride off-road vehicles or run gas-powered lawn equipment.
* Make sure paints and solvents are water-based instead of oil-based.
* Do anything that will save gasoline or electricity.