What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and Your Family from Ozone and Particle Pollution?

• Don't assume that you're safe just because you're healthy! Ozone and particle pollution can threaten anyone's health. Be aware of how you feel on high pollution days and take steps to help protect yourself!
  
• Are you or someone in your family sensitive to ozone or particle pollution?  Children, the elderly, people with breathing problems including asthma, people with cardiovascular diseases, and adults who are active outdoors, including outdoor workers and healthy exercisers, are all considered 'sensitive groups'.  They are the first to feel the effects of ozone and particle pollution, and they need to take extra steps to protect themselves from harm.
  
• If the day's ozone level is unhealthy, adjust your plans for the day. Avoid prolonged vigorous activity outdoors. The health effects of ozone are worsened over extended periods of exposure, and by the deep, rapid breathing that accompanies exercise. Plan the most strenuous activities for the early morning hours, which in most areas occur before ozone levels climb.
  
• Keep track of air pollution levels. Find out if the AQI is reported in your area, which will give you the previous day's information. You may also have access to an air quality forecast, which is even better.
  
• If the day's particle pollution level is unhealthy, adjust your plans for the day. Stay away from high-traffic areas, and do not exercise near those areas.
  
• Remember that particle pollution can be high even inside your home. Take steps to reduce your exposure to indoor particles:  Eliminate smoking indoors. Vent all gas or other combustion appliances directly to the outdoors and do not burn wood, which creates particles both indoors and out.
  
• Speak out for clean air. Let your local officials know that you are concerned about the effect air pollution may be having on your health, and that you support stronger pollution control measures.

How Do You Find Air Quality Information?

• Air quality forecasts may be included as part of your local weather forecast on TV and radio, or printed in the newspaper. If it is not available, call your local media and tell them you would like them to offer this important public health service. AQI levels are also available online, through local agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (www.epa.gov/airnow).

• State and local air pollution control agencies are responsible for collecting air quality data and reporting the AQI.  You can call them for current information if it is not available through the media. A directory of state and local agencies is available from STAPPA/ALAPCO, their national membership association, at www.cleanairworld.org.

• The EPA issues year-round AQI forecasts for 35 states plus the District of Columbia. Forecasts include animated pictures of ozone and particle pollution levels superimposed over a map of the U.S. The map illustrates how pollution levels change and move throughout the day. It is ³real time² information, so you can see current outdoor air quality. The map is available at www.epa.gov/airnow.  The EPA also makes it available to local weather forecasters through national weather service providers.

For more information about air pollution and lung health, contact the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872), or visit www.californialung.org.