SAN FRANCISCO – The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing the first Spare the Air Alert for smog in 2019.
Air quality is forecast to be unhealthy on Sunday, June 9. High inland temperatures combined with light winds and motor vehicle exhaust is expected to cause unhealthy ozone accumulation in the region. There is no free transit tomorrow and there is no wood burning ban in place.
“Air pollution from the millions of vehicles on Bay Area roadways, in combination with hot temperatures, is expected to create unhealthy air quality in our region,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “Leaving our cars at home and walking, biking or taking transit, instead of driving alone, will help reduce unhealthy air pollution so we can all breathe easier.”
Spare the Air Alerts are issued when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. Ozone, or smog, can cause throat irritation, congestion, chest pain, trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. Long-term exposure to ozone can reduce lung function. Ozone pollution is particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions. When a Spare the Air Alert is issued, outdoor exercise should be done only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower.
Find out more about what the Air District is doing to address climate change in the nine-county Bay Area. Spare the Air-Cool the Climate is a blueprint for tackling regional air pollution and climate pollutants while improving the health of Bay Area residents for the next several decades. Check out this video about our bold vision to combat climate change at https://youtu.be/p9BxhIrIqrI.
To find out when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect, residents can register for email AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org, call 1(800) HELP-AIR, download the Spare the Air App or connect with Spare the Air on Facebook or Twitter.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area. Connect with the Air District via Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
