The Bay Area Air Quality Management District said Tuesday that the air in the Bay Area will be unhealthy. The district issued a “Spare the Air Alert” due to smog.
According to the district, very high inland temperatures of over 38 degrees Celsius and a weak sea breeze in the afternoon, along with exhaust fumes from motor vehicles, will lead to increased concentrations of ozone, or smog.
Ozone pollution is especially harmful to young children, seniors and people with respiratory and heart conditions. The agency said people should exercise outdoors only in the early morning hours, when ozone levels are lower.
Save the Air alerts are issued when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels.
Ozone can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain. It can trigger asthma, inflame the lung lining and worsen bronchitis and emphysema.
Long-term exposure may reduce lung function.
To find out when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect, residents can register for email AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org, call 1(800) HELP-AIR, download the Spare the Air app, or contact Spare the Air on Facebook or Twitter.
