Spare the Air Alert: The Air District Is Issuing Its First Spare the Air Alert for Smog in 2014

The first  Spare the Air Alert for smog in 2014 is in effect for Monday, May 12, in the San Francisco Bay Area. Concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution are forecast to be unhealthy today. High temperatures and low winds, paired with motor vehicle exhaust, are expected to cause unhealthy ozone accumulation in the Bay Area.

“As our economy improves and traffic congestion increases on Bay Area roads, it’s more important than ever to find a better way to work than driving alone,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “By driving less and choosing commute alternatives such as carpooling or taking transit, we can lower air pollution levels in the region and in our communities.”

Residents are encouraged to drive less and reduce their energy use tomorrow and every day to keep pollution levels lower, preventing health alerts when temperatures are high.

To help prevent smog this summer, please:

• Bike to work or around town
• Take public transit
• Telecommute
• Carpool and link your errands to reduce driving
• Avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers
• Reduce household energy use
• Don’t use lighter fluid on the barbecue
• Avoid using aerosol spray cleaners, paints and hairspray

High levels of ozone pollution are particularly harmful for young children, seniors, and those with respiratory and heart conditions. Vigorous outdoor exercise should be undertaken only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower.

To plan your commute online, visit 511.org.

To see air quality forecasts, visit sparetheair.org

Download the FREE Spare the Air iPhone or Android app at sparetheair.org for alert notifications, local air quality forecasts, podcasts and several tools to help reduce air pollution!

This AirAlert is provided by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Thank you for doing your part to Spare the Air!

If you want more information on the air quality forecast, or other aspects of the local air quality program, please contact your local air quality agency using the information above. For more information on the U.S. EPA’s AIRNow Program, visit http://www.airnow.gov.

In the Bay Area, the summer Spare the Air season generally runs from May through mid-October when clear skies, hot temperatures, lighter than usual winds, and strong temperature inversions combine to create smoggy conditions.  Spare the Air Alerts are declared for days forecast to have ozone concentrations that exceed federal health-based standards.