Third Spare the Air Day in a Row

A Spare the Air Day has been called for Wednesday, marking the third consecutive day when air quality is expected to be poor in the Bay Area.

“This late seasonal hot spell is expected to create conditions for unhealthy air quality,” Air District Executive Officer Jack Broadbent said in a statement. “We’re urging everyone to make clean air choices, such as taking public transportation, reducing energy use, and refraining from using gas-powered lawn equipment, to keep pollution levels down."

High temperatures coupled with bad air quality have prompted the need for the string of alerts, according to air district officials.

The agency advises against outdoor vigorous execise on Spare the Air days, except in the early morning hours when ground ozone levels are lower. Wood-burning is banned on such days.

And by driving less and reducing energy use every day, pollution levels lower, preventing health alerts even when temperatures soar.

Dangerous ground-level ozone increases with a rise in temperature in combination with sunlight, oxygen and volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides caused by car exhaust, gasoline vapors, industrial emissions and household chemicals, the district said.

Breathing ozone can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain; and can trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema.

High levels of ozone pollution are particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions.

Tomorrow's alert is the seventh this year, two more than the total at this time last year, said district spokeswoman Kristine Roselius. Alerts occur mostly in the late spring and summer. Last year ended up with 10 alerts, following 14 in 2009 and 13 in 2008, she said.

The air district issues Spare the Air alerts whenever air quality is forecast to reach unhealthy concentrations.

There will be no free transit on Wednesday.

The air district recommends residents follow these steps to maintain healthy air quality in the Bay Area:

•       Bike to work or around town
•       Take public transit
•       Work at home or telecommute
•       Carpool and link your errands to reduce driving
•       Avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers
•       Reduce household energy use
•       Don’t use lighter fluid on the barbecue
•       Avoid using aerosol spray cleaners, paints and hairspray

How are you affected by Spare the Air days?