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The Air Quality We Live In
from:Air quality is extremely important to our health and overall well being. Although it's something we all tend to take for granted, the air quality around us plays a very important role in our lives. We've all heard people talking about the ozone and the ozone layer and how harmful it can be to the air quality around us. Ozone is a colorless gas that's everywhere in the air we breathe. Depending on where you're at when it appears will determine if it's good or bad ozone. It occurs in the stratosphere, the upper atmosphere of the Earth and protects the Earth form sun's ultraviolet rays.
When the ozone is at ground level, it is considered an air pollutant and can be very harmful to our health. Ground level ozone affects our air quality when the oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds react to sunlight. This ozone comes from vehicles like trucks, cars, buses, etc., lawn and garden equipment, construction equipment, large factories and industries, paints and cleaners.
Air quality is tested and determine by the air quality index, which a standardized indicator of what the quality of the air is in one specific location. It measures the ozone at ground level as well as amount of particles in the air, which may include nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide. The pollen count, which will also affect the air quality, is not listed in the air quality index. Certain times of the day will affect the ozone, which, in turn, affects our air quality. In urban environments, the ozone is likely to reach an unhealthy level on a hot sunny day because of the urban smog.
Rural areas can also be affected by unhealthy ozone layers because it can travel a long ways via the wind. There are some sites that give air quality reports on a daily basis so the public knows how polluted or clean the air may be that day. This is specifically important for those that may have allergies and need to know the outdoor air quality conditions before planning outdoor activities.
The ozone can cause health problems by making it harder to breathe, causing pain when breathing as well as shortness of breathing, damaging the lung lining, increases or causes coughing and aggravates lung diseases. Although the ozone affects all of us, some people are more susceptible to problems caused from poor air quality due to the ozone. These may include individuals with lung disease like emphysema, asthma or bronchitis as well as elderly. Even healthy people may occasionally be affected by the harmful effects of the ozone.
Air Quality California Cities Specific links
Air Quality California Cities News
Benicia air-monitoring project in limbo, Valero and community group say - Vallejo Times-Herald
Benicia air-monitoring project in limbo, Valero and community group say Vallejo Times-Herald Gamiles said. "What if a very high number shows up? Who do you call? These are questions that are of great concern to Valero and the city." refinery. It detects and reports short-term local air-quality events, in real time on the Internet. |
Indoor Air Quality Experts Resolve Complex Mystery Odor Complaints - Environmental Expert (press release)
Indoor Air Quality Experts Resolve Complex Mystery Odor Complaints Environmental Expert (press release) Orange, CA, May 21st, 2012 -- Last month, Philadelphia firefighters and hazmat crews spent their day at a local elementary school. They were not there for career day, but rather to respond to complaints of a strong odor in the school building. |
Reducing air pollution during 2008 Beijing Olympics boosted residents' heart ... - CBS News
 The Atlantic | Reducing air pollution during 2008 Beijing Olympics boosted residents' heart ... CBS News The study found that the Chinese government's cleanup efforts to reduce the smog and chronic air pollution that plagues the city led to a temporary boost in heart health, only to worsen after the games. "We believe this is the first major study to ... Your Heart on Air Pollution: An Olympic Case Study Air pollutants mediate effects on heart health through inflammation and thrombosis Pollution cuts improve heart health - Beijing study |
America's Most Polluted Cities - Forbes
 Bakersfield Now | America's Most Polluted Cities Forbes It's troublesome news for the Golden State, where air pollution already plagues many cities. In fact, five California cities have the worst air quality of all major US metropolitan areas, according to the American Lung Association. California Cities Most Polluted: Study American Lung Association Releases 2012 Report on Air Quality California area tops 'most polluted cities' list |
California cities dominate top 10 most polluted American places - News10.net
 News10.net | California cities dominate top 10 most polluted American places News10.net The American Lung Association's recent release of their "State of the Air" report highlighted California's woes in terms of air quality. California cities grabbed the top spot in America's most polluted cities by "year-round particle pollution", ... |