Monitor the outdoor air quality for your health!

It is finally starting to feel like Spring! With Summer beginning in less than a month, most people are not thinking about air quality! We want to remind you about the importance of air quality to your health. The outdoor air quality is influenced by the combination of pollutants from auto exhaust, power plants, oil refineries and airport emissions. Air pollution can get worse in the summer because sunlight and other pollutants in the air make ozone. Poor air quality is often hard to see and includes invisible pollutants such as ozone and fine particulates. Sensitive groups that may become sick from exposure to ozone and particulates are children, the elderly, people with heart disease or lung problems like asthma. These groups should avoid outdoor activities in the afternoon and early evening on poor air quality days. Thankfully, the air quality where you live is monitored every day! You can sign up for free to receive DAILY air quality alerts at airqualitypartnership.org or go to airnow.gov to download an app for your smartphone. By knowing when the outside air is not healthy, you can protect yourself and your family by not exercising outside in the afternoon and early evening on those days.