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Updated 11/24/18
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Some Local FAQ: http://www.sparetheair.com/faq.cfm Spare the Air Days: www.sparetheair.com/sparetheairdays.cfm Air quality by season: http://www.sparetheair.com/aqthisyear.cfm Federal and State Ground-level Ozone Exceedances: http://www.sparetheair.com/Exceedances.cfm?g=0&v=PLC&t=all&page=bySite |
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WHAT IS OZONE? "Ozone is a naturally occurring gas that is widely present in our environment at ground level. The ozone molecule is composed of three oxygen atoms, rather than the two atoms of normal oxygen. It is formed by the interaction of other gaseous pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). City centre levels of ozone increase during periods of high sunlight. Ozone is classed as an oxidising agent, and has the potential to damage or destroy other molecules." http://www.camfil.com/Filter-technology/Ozon-Rating/What-is-ozone/ http://www.camfil.com/About-Camfil/ |
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What do Ozone Maps really show?
"Ozone maps found here on SpareTheAir.com use real-time air monitoring data to show ozone air pollution levels throughout the region. Most of the time you'll notice ozone forming in the urban area and then moving "out of town" by the afternoon. However, on some occasions it appears that the ozone is being transported from one area to another area when it is actually forming at different rates in the two areas. For example, in the morning it often appears that moderate levels of ozone are moving from the foothills down into the valley. In reality, ozone levels remain higher in the foothills overnight and through the following morning due to a lack of ozone consumption. Therefore, ozone reaches the moderate level earlier in the day. To understand what is really being shown in the ozone maps you must take into account differences in ozone formation rates in different areas as well as transport by varying wind speeds and directions at all times of the day." FAQ: http://www.sparetheair.com/faq.cfm |
WHAT CAN WE DO .... ?
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Why it matters
"Ozone is an extremely reactive gas and inhalation of ozone can be harmful to human health. The presence of ozone in air may be readily correlated to hospital admission rates relating to respiratory illness." "Symptoms of ozone exposure include; throat irritation, aggravation of asthma, decrease in lung function and increased susceptibility to respiratory infection." "Ozone and human health" http://www.camfil.com/Filter-technology/Ozon-Rating/ http://www.camfil.com/About-Camfil/ "Even healthy people can experience polluted air issues ...." "Your actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of your exposure to the polluted air." http://www.sparetheair.com/health.cfm?page=healthoverall |
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OUTDOORS Use the above information in "Current Air Quality" and "Forecast" to Check Local Ozone Level" to see if precautions are in order for that day's outdoor activity. Sign up to get automatic air quality email alerts before planning extra outdoor activity on the days it might be healthier to stay indoors: http://www.sparetheair.com/airalert.cfm |
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INDOORS "The most effective ways to improve your indoor air are to reduce or remove the sources of pollutants and to ventilate with clean outdoor air; check current outdoor air quality before running Smart Vents, etc.. In addition, research shows that filtration can be an effective supplement to source control and ventilation. Using a portable air cleaner and/or upgrading the air filter in your furnace or central heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system can help to improve indoor air quality. Portable air cleaners, also known as air purifiers or air sanitizers, are designed to filter the air in a single room or area. Central furnace or HVAC filters are designed to filter air throughout a home. Portable air cleaners and HVAC filters can reduce indoor air pollution; however, they cannot remove all pollutants from the air." https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-cleaners-and-air-filters-home There are of course, many varieties of home air purifiers on the market available in a wide price range. Here are other suggestions .... |
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Use HVAC air filters with activated carbon:
Pilot Study: "Ozone removal by filters containing activated carbon" Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Environmental Energy Technologies Division http://escholarship.org/uc/item/87t73704#page-1 http://escholarship.org/about_escholarship.html This discount filter web site handles most HVAC models and sizes; watch for frequent sales with fast, free shipping: https://www.discountfurnacefilter.com/shopby/filters/ (I receive no compensation for referrals.) Since I had allergy issues after moving here, I chose to go with the "healthy climate carbon clean" MERV* 16 filter promising to deliver “50% first-pass reduction of ozone”. My last home inspector said that in his opinion, I was using the best filter on the market. I use a 20” x 25” x 5” air filter that fits into a custom attic air duct box replacing the original Del Webb ceiling vent used for smaller size filter access. (Newer HVAC duct work may already include this type of attic filter container.) Once a year, my HVAC inspection person simply swaps in the new carbon air filter that I've pre-ordered here: https://www.discountfurnacefilter.com/lennox-x6675-healthy-climate-carbon-clean-16-hcf20-16-merv-16-replacement-filter-20-x-25-x-5 A bit pricey for myself, but in addition to having cleaner air to breathe -- no allergy issues when I'm indoors -- my furniture accumulates very little dust for weeks at a time :-). -- The manufacturer actually recommends changing this filter every nine months, but HVAC maint folk say that once a year appears more than adequate for my 1160 square-foot house. * MERV Ratings: What do they mean? by Bob Vila of This Old House http://www.bobvila.com/articles/merv-ratings/#.V-Ku8q0o7x4 |
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Go Green ....
Some house plants are better than others at reducing ozone: "Houseplants cut Indoor Ozone" "The scientists chose snake plant, spider plant, and golden pothos for the experiment because of the plants' popularity (primarily due to their low cost, low maintenance, and rich foliage) and their reported ability to reduce other indoor air pollutants." American Society for Horticultural Science https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908103634.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/about.htm "50 Plants that Clean the Air" "Almost all plants on the planet have an air cleaning ability, although it's true some are better adapted to deal with certain toxins, pollution and putting moisture back into the air than others." Rated from the most effective air cleaner to the least effective. http://www.ourhouseplants.com/guides/50-plants-that-clean-the-air http://www.ourhouseplants.com/about "The How-To on houseplant identification, care, info, and advice" http://www.houseplant411.com/ House Plant Location Can Matter .... A science-supported, Feng Shui house plant location issue: Here's an interesting caveat: keeping house plants OUT of our bedrooms might improve air quality for sleeping..... "If you think that plants produce oxygen only, you are in for a surprise....." "At night, when photosynthesis is not happening, they give off much more CO2 than they absorb." "Why Feng Shui doesn't Like House Plants in the Bedroom, Backed by Science" January, 2016 https://fengshuinexus.com/blog/feng-shui-no-plants-bedroom-backed-by-science/ https://fengshuinexus.com/about/ It is also suggested to refrain from jogging outside or opening house windows for fresh air before the sun comes up .....allow photosynthesis to resume and reverse plant CO2 production. |
