Clean Air Challenge

Have you ever experienced sunburn inside your lungs? Ozone can inflame and damage the lining of your lungs much like a sunburn. Repeated exposure to ozone pollution may cause other serious health problems, particularly for the elderly, the young, and those suffering from respiratory ailments such as emphysema or asthma. Even small amounts of ozone can contribute to a variety of health problems including chest pains, coughing, throat irritation, congestion, bronchitis and reduced lung capacity

Health Concerns

Because of its microscopic size, particle pollution can be inhaled deeply into our lungs, causing serious health problems. Exposure to particle pollution can aggravate lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, causing increased medication use and doctor visits.

Particle pollution exposure has also been linked to heart attacks and cardiac arrhythmias. Particle pollution can change the variability of your heart rate, making you more susceptible to heart attacks. People with heart disease such as congestive heart disease, coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at greater risk.

Steps to Reduce your Child's Exposure to Air Pollution:

If the forecast calls for poor air quality, avoid planning outdoor activities in the afternoon when pollution levels tend to peak and limit the amount of time your child spends outdoors in vigorous play.

Make sure you child's care givers and coaches are aware of the health risks of air pollution. If you child has asthma, it is important that these care-givers know he or she is especially vulnerable during an Air Quality Alert.

Monitor your child's activity level when air quality is poor. Many times children fail to recognize the significance of respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath and consequently fail to move indoors or slow down their activity during high pollution days.

What is Ozone?

The ozone on ground level is produced when emissions from lawn equipment, cars and industry respond together in the existence of sunlight to create an odorless and colorless gas. During hot, summer days, ozone concentrations increase and can harm plants, materials and people's health. This in itself tells the world that we need to start consider using alternative energy.

It is no longer acceptable to think emissions from our man made equipment is the norm when it fact, it has effectively started to negatively impact our lives. More awareness needs to be raised to inspire others to use alternative energy in order to benefit themselves and the world as a whole. You can choose from renewable energy, natural energy and non renewable energy solutions to satisfy all your needs. If contributing to the earth and helping restoring it is of importance to you, it is time to start thinking of alternative energy.

A perfect example is the solar panel where you can easily generate electricity from sunlight. Not only does that save you vast amounts of money, you contribute to saving the environment too. Solar panels absorb heat directly to either heat water or air or electricity.

What is Particle Pollution?

Particle pollution or what is also commonly referred to as soot or PM2.5 are tiny solid particles and liquid droplets measuring only 2.5 micrometers in size, or 40 times smaller than a grain of table salt! Particle pollution is released into our air by cars, trucks, power plants and industrial facilities, as well as from residential fireplaces. Unlike ozone, particle pollution does not need sunlight or heat to form. As a result, particle pollution can occur year-round, and it tends to be a problem in central Ohio in the summer and fall.

Steps to Protect Yourself from Particulate Pollution

Get in the habit of to view daily particulate pollution forecasts using the Air Quality Index (AQI) Depending on particulate pollution levels, change your plans to reduce the amount of harmful pollution that enters your lungs. For example, you may need to postpone strenuous activities, such as running, on days when particle pollution levels are high.