Until recently, great strides had been made to clean up the air in our cities. The 1970 Clean Air Act was key to improving air quality and reducing pollutants. However, according to the EPA, over the last few years, the number of unhealthy air days has started to creep up.
Summertime is particularly problematic. Dust storms and wildfires are more likely to affect air quality in warmer months. Ozone is also a summer problem, as pollutants from vehicles react with sunlight to produce ground level ozone.
So what can you do to stay safe this summer?
Keep an eye on air quality where you live. The AirNow site is a great way to track what’s going on, with air quality ratings on ozone levels and particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM10).
If air quality is bad, try to avoid going out at certain times of the day. Ozone levels are at their highest between 2 and 6pm, so when possible, try to stay indoors during this time. Particularly if you have any ongoing respiratory issues. The very old, the very young and moms to be are also amongst the most vulnerable when it comes to air pollution.
If you have asthma, make sure you carry your inhaler with you at all times.
If you exercise outdoors, do it first thing in the morning, before the sun has had a chance to really heat up. And stay away from busy roads at any time of the day, as pollutants from vehicles will put you at risk.
Make sure your home is a clean space. There is little you can do to control the air outside. But you can keep pollutants to a minimum inside your home. Check out our earlier post on how to protect yourself from indoor pollutants HERE.
And for the ultimate protection, our range of air purifiers will remove all harmful pollutants from your home. Including chemicals, VOC’s, allergens, dander, mold, dust, gases and odors. Invest in an Austin for complete peace of mind. For more on our products and how they can protect you, click HERE.
