southernenvironment.org
Smog season in Atlanta runs from May 1st through September 30th, when rising temperatures, stagnant wind and high humidity all combine to create unhealthy air quality. On really bad days, respiratory health concerns and Smog Alerts become commonplace.
Georgia’s air quality has gone from bad to worse in the past decade, with the number of counties failing to meet federal air quality standards rising from 13 to 28. However, the news is not all bad. In 2008, metro Atlanta experienced 29 air quality violations for ozone, fewer than the previous year and despite more stringent standards. Plus, the region has not registered a Code Purple air quality day since 2002.
So how can we all pitch in to clean up our air? Approximately one-half of all smog in Atlanta comes from tailpipes. Drivers who opt for an alternative to driving alone can have an immediate, positive impact on air quality. The Clean Air Campaign developed the Commuter Rewards program which pays commuters $3 per day, up to $100 when they switch from driving alone to carpooling, teleworking, riding transit, bicycling or walking.
May 1st marks the one-year anniversary of a grassroots movement called the One Ton Challenge, of which 3,600 people in Atlanta participated in during 2008. Participants take a pledge to reduce up to one ton of pollution by carpooling or clean commuting for at least one day per week for an entire year. One of last year’s participants said, “No matter how you look at it, carpooling is a win-win situation. We’re making a positive impact on metro Atlanta’s air quality by reducing the number of cars on the road and it’s significantly reduced our stress level. It’s a healthy choice for us and the environment.”
Now’s the perfect time to think about cleaner transportation. If you’ve ever flown into or out of the Atlanta airport on a bad air quality day, it’s a sight you won’t easily forget, as a thick layer of purplish haze drapes itself across the city. It makes you wonder how we can breathe at all.
Safety tips for children during smog season:
All children are particularly sensitive to the effects of air pollution because they take in more air per body weight, their lungs are still developing and they tend to spend more active time outdoors than adults. Because of this, parents must monitor pollution levels and consider the risks before sending children outdoors on smog alert days.
For children particularly sensitive:
- Limit outdoor activity on Code Orange days
- Eliminate all outdoor activity on Code Red Days
To sign up for smog alerts or to take the One Ton Challenge, click here.
Source: Southeastgreen.com http://www.southeastgreen.com
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