SAN FRANCISCO – The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing the first Spare the Air Alert of 2021 for smog on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.
Air quality is forecast to be unhealthy on Monday, May 31. Light winds and hot temperatures, along with motor vehicle exhaust, will create elevated concentrations of ozone, or smog.
“As traffic bounces back to pre-pandemic levels, hot temperatures and tailpipe exhaust are expected to cause unhealthy air quality this holiday weekend,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “This alert highlights the need to reduce our driving and keep air quality healthy by finding alternatives to driving alone such as taking transit or walking or biking.”
Spare the Air Alerts are issued when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. Ozone 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.
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. For more information about Spare the Air, visit www.sparetheair.org.
