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Air pollution can affect your health and the environment. But there are actions every one of us can take to reduce air pollution and keep the air cleaner—and preventive measures you can take to protect your health.
During the month of June, the Kansas City region experienced a higher-than-usual number of Ozone Alerts and exceedances of federal standards. While we received a break from ozone pollution in July, more alerts are sure to come before the end of the ozone season in October, according to Doug Norsby, senior environmental planner for the Mid-America Regional Council Air Quality Program. “We still have a lot of time left in this year’s ozone season,” Norsby says. “Weather conditions for the remaining summer will continue to support ozone production well into September.”
Luckily, MARC’s air quality program tracks regional air quality and issues a daily SkyCast forecast from March through October, indexing each day’s air quality on a scale of good to unhealthy. When necessary, MARC also issues an Ozone Alert that warns of unsafe ozone levels. In addition, the program’s public education site AirQKC provides Kansas City metro residents with resources that can alert the community about dangerous ozone levels. AirQKC also helps local businesses, schools, and consumers understand the importance of clean air and the simple steps we can take to improve the region’s air quality.
Ozone in the Kansas City area
Ozone is one of the biggest threats to the region’s air quality. Ozone is created by a reaction in sunlight between two precursor chemicals: volatile organic compounds (VOCs), commonly found in vapors from solvents like paint and gas, and nitrogen oxides (NOx), a component of emissions from combustion of fuels. NOx gases are commonly released from vehicles, airplanes, and power generation. During hot summer days, all of the ingredients necessary for creating ozone pollution increase. When we get stretches of hot weather without clouds or rain, especially where we don’t have winds that can push daily pollution away from the area, ozone pollution can quickly accumulate.
“Those two types of chemicals get in the air and, in order to react, they have to be in sunlight,” Norsby says. “We have long summer days, which provides extra time for that chemical reaction to take place. And if there’s not much wind, that’s when ozone really gets going,” Norsby says. “You don’t always see it—because ozone itself is invisible—but as a component of smog, you’ll start to see that associated haze.”
Ozone can cause a variety of problems, even in healthy adults, by damaging our lungs and making it difficult for them to absorb oxygen. For most people, breathing in ozone is an irritant—so you may have a scratchy throat or some coughing. But for small children, older adults, or people who have chronic breathing or heart conditions, it can cause significant health impacts including chest pains, coughing, nausea, throat irritation, and difficulty breathing.
“When temperatures rise, paying attention to air quality in the metro becomes even more important,” Norsby says. “Getting air quality notifications from the daily Skycast is the best way to know what’s coming so you can be prepared.” When an Ozone Alert is issued, try to avoid long periods of exposure by cutting back outdoor activities and schedule them before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. when you can to avoid hours when pollution will be highest. Those who are sensitive to air pollution should stay indoors in a well-ventilated or air-conditioned building.
For easy access to daily SkyCasts, follow AirQKC on Twitter. For other options to keep up with the daily SkyCast visit AirQKC.org or watch for the SkyCast in daily weather reports.
Ways to Do Your Part
Norsby says there are things we can all do to reduce our contribution to ozone pollution. “In the Kansas City region, while industry and utilities contribute to unhealthy ozone levels, more than half of ozone-producing emissions come from everyday people doing everyday things.” Vehicles contribute significantly to ozone, so a good place to start is to consider some of the options for reducing exhaust emissions:
- Rethink your commute. Carpool, use public transportation, try an e-scooter, bike, walk, or work from home when possible.
- Drive less, later. Combine errands and put off less-necessary trips for a cooler day. When travel is necessary, try to wait until evening.
- Limit senseless idling. If you’re in a drive-through, the school pick-up/drop-off line, or waiting for carry-out and you’ll be idling for more than 30 seconds, turn your car off.
- Avoid daytime fueling. Simply filling your vehicle with gasoline can lead to pollution as fumes escape, tiny drips and spills occur, and gas vapors react with heat and sunlight to form ozone. If you must fill your tank, do so after dusk. And be sure to avoid “topping off” your tank.
Beyond transportation, there is a range of additional ways to help reduce pollution such as:
- Postpone mowing. Lawn and garden equipment accounts for an estimated nine percent of the Kansas City area’s ozone-forming emissions. Mow later in the evening, and postpone yard work that involves powered equipment during an Ozone Alert day.
- Grill with a charcoal chimney. If you own a charcoal grill, consider using a charcoal chimney instead of lighter fluid. Lighter fluid not only emits VOCs but affects the taste of your burgers. If you’re in the market for a new grill consider a gas grill. More efficient than charcoal grills, gas grills, especially natural gas grills, produce fewer pollutants.
Spread the Word
One person can make a huge difference when you encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to take action. By spreading awareness about air quality and encouraging action at individual, community, and regional levels, you can help MARC’s AirQKC program continue its mission of minimizing the number of days with unhealthy levels of ozone pollution.
“It may seem like you won’t make a big dent, but if you and your neighbors are doing it and you all are talking to other people about it, we can make a much bigger impact,” Norsby says. “We know what we need to do. Let’s do it together.”
Visit www.AirQKC.org for even more tips. Your business or organization can also join the Workplace Partnership. Partners get access to resources, including the monthly air quality e-newsletter.