Our Polluted Planet- The High Cost of Poor Air Quality

July 24th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under
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Having trouble breathing? It might be because it’s summer, and air quality goes down as air temperature goes up.
On hot days, you need to pay attention to the Air Quality Index, especially if you have respiratory problems, or if you exercise outdoors regularly.

Air Quality Index , or AQI, is an overall measure of the daily air quality in your area. You can find a national AQI map at AirNow. The map’s updated daily. Here’s an AQI definiton chart:

Canada’s Index is more stringent:

“The current health classifications used by the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) are as follows:

  • 0-25: Good (green)
  • 26*-50: Fair (yellow)
  • 51-100: Poor (orange)
  • 101+: Very poor (red)”


The AQI is an overall number based on measurements by the EPA of five major pollutants cited in the Clean Air Act. Of these five, ground level ozone (smog) and Particle Matter (PM) are the most damaging to human health.

Smog is worse in the summer because high temperatures “cook” chemicals and the air - making an “air stew” - causing a chemical reaction that creates still another unhealthy chemical. It gets extremely bad when the air temperature is hotter in the upper atmosphere with respect to the air temperature near the earth’s surface. This weather pattern stagnates the smog.

Recently the Chinese of Beijing, in an effort to clear the air for the upcoming Olympic games, have shut down factories, and ordered half of their cars off the road. In spite of this effort, a few world class athletes have already pulled out of the competition.

Do you remember a time when air quality was not a part of the summer weather forecast?

With the rising population and energy needs, do you think we’ll be able to reverse rising levels of air pollution?

If it doesn’t kill you it will cost you, in medical visits and prescriptions.

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There Are 3 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by no imageSam (Who am I?) on 25 July 2008:

    Yeah I do believe that it can be reversed as Earth can replace increase the protective level of ozone that protects us. However, this will only happen if U.S signs the Kyoto protocol. Unfortunately, Bush has no intention to sign it whatsoever.

    Anyway, I have an article on my blog which shows how you can save the earth while at the same time save money. You can find it here->> http://fixmypersonalfinance.com/2008/07/07/save-your-money-save-our-planet/

    Thanks!

    Sam
    Fix My Personal Finance
    http://fixmypersonalfinance.com

    Sams last blog post..Dealing with Credit Card Debt

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  2. Comment by no imagelala (Who am I?) on 25 July 2008:

    I used to live in Charlotte, NC who went through quite a population explosion in the mid-late 90’s. With the influx of people, folks moving 30-40 away from the heart of the city into suburbs and the higher heats, Summer weekdays were the worst. So bad that the local weatherman always reported on air-quality, which was usually in the orange or red values.

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  3. Comment by no imageLisa (Who am I?) on 25 July 2008:

    @Sam - I’ll take a look at it. Hopefully the new government administration takes the environment problems more seriously.
    @lala- wow, sounds awful. more people means more jobs which means more industry. It’s a shame that industry isn’t more regulated.

    Thanks for the input-L

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