Picture all the things you like about early mornings…

Picture all the things you like about early mornings…

…the blue skies

…the fresh air

…now take a deep breath

…and hold that thought

Because the heat of the day will kick in…

and the valleys will fill with summer smog

…and your body will wonder why it let you out of bed.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration.

But wouldn’t you like a little less of this …

…and a little more of this

We would too. That’s why we closely watch our air quality.

Four types of pollution are monitored: Ground level ozone Particulate matter Sulfur Dioxide Carbon Monoxide

Ground Level ozone is the primary focus in the summer…

…and Particulate Matter is our primary concern in the winter

Ground level ozone is not the same ozone found in the stratosphere

Ground level ozone mixes with summer smog and forms harmful pollutants.

It is formed when automobile and industrial emissions, react with the high temperatures and bright sunshine.

Ozone is mostly visible as brown haze hovering over urban valleys on a hot sunny day…

…otherwise it is invisible.

In the winter particulate matter (PM2.5 or PM 10), or ash from power plants, emissions, become trapped in the valleys throughout the winter months when the air is not in motion.

Ozone and Particulate Matter damage the lungs, making it difficult to breath

How much are you personally affected by the pollutants in the air?

One in three of us experiences some type of respiratory problem during high pollution periods

This statistic doesn’t mean the other two people lucked out.

Prolonged exposure to low levels of ozone can reduce a healthy adults lung function by 15 to 20 percent.

It’s even harder on children, and elderly

Protect your health on a high pollution day exercise in the morning or later in the evening…

…limit children’s strenuous outdoor activity…

Pay attention to respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing and discomfort when you take a deep breath

While the amount of pollution your vehicle produces might not seem like much…

…times that by the thousands of other cars on the road and the results are overwhelming.

One person can make a difference.

Select simple choices that fit your lifestyle:

Park it

Walk it

Carpool or use public transit

For lunch try walking instead of driving to the nearest restaurant

Plan ahead. Combine your errands to reduce the number of times you start your car.

Keep your car tuned up

Gas up in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler.

Conserve energy, it cuts down on air pollution.

When working in the yard, use a push lawnmower, and electric trimmers, and yard equipment.

Avoid purchasing consumer spray products, or buy products that are less toxic or nontoxic.

Be aware of low pollution verses high pollution days. Check on line at www.cleanairutah.gov

Will your individual choices make a difference?

YES!!!

Park your car one day a week and one-fourth pound of pollution will be kept out of the air.

If every driver along the Wasatch front did that, emissions would decrease by 125 tons each week.

What you do makes a difference.

Picture all the things you like about early mornings…