Date
Monday, May 02, 2022
The Air District is announcing the start of the Spare the Air summer smog season on Monday, May 2. Millions of cars on our roadways each day remain the largest source of summertime smog pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the Bay Area. The Spare the Air campaign encourages Bay Area residents to drive less and look for ways to share, shorten, or change their commutes to help reduce smog, traffic, and gridlock in the region.
May 2 is also the start of national Air Quality Awareness Week, which promotes awareness of air quality issues and encourages everyone to learn about the Air Quality Index and how to track daily air quality. Bay Area residents can check hourly air quality readings at http://baaqmd.gov/highs.
During the warmer weather months, Spare the Air Alerts are issued when smog, or ozone pollution, is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. Ozone can cause throat irritation, congestion, and chest pain. It can trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs, and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. Ozone pollution is particularly harmful for young children, seniors, and those with respiratory and heart conditions. When a Spare the Air Alert is called, limit outdoor exercise in the late afternoon when ozone concentrations are highest.
Know when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect:
- Via text alerts by texting the word “START” to 817-57
- By connecting with Spare the Air on Facebook or Twitter
- On the sparetheair.org website
- By calling 1(800) HELP-AIR
- By signing up for email AirAlerts at sparetheair.org
- By downloading the Spare the Air iPhone or Android App
View press release
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Last Updated: 5/2/2022