Air Quality Awareness Week- “Be Air Aware”

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May 1 – 5, 2017 is Air Quality Awareness Week – “Be Air Aware”

 

Governor Chris Christie has proclaimed May 1 – 5, 2017 to be Air Quality Awareness Week in New Jersey. During Air Quality Awareness Week, people are encouraged to learn about air quality and air pollution, and to change everyday routines to reduce air pollution, lessen their impact on human health and the environment, and likely save money at the same time. Some simple changes include combining automobile trips, not idling your car, keeping your car’s maintenance up-to-date, using environmentally friendly cleaning products, and checking the Air Quality Index (AQI) before heading outside.

Air Quality Awareness Week is timed to the beginning of the ozone season. New Jersey’s air quality has improved greatly as a result of better pollution controls on cars, trucks, and power plants. Also, consumer products now contain less volatile organic substances. New Jersey has focused its efforts to reduce ground-level ozone by reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. New Jersey has made significant progress in improving its air quality over the years, but more work is still needed to meet the federal ozone standard strengthened in 2015. You can help.

Take these actions to improve air quality and reduce your exposure to ozone:

  • Reduce driving. Carpool, use public transportation, walk, or bicycle to reduce ozone pollution, especially on hot summer days.
  • On ozone alert days, people—especially sensitive individuals such as older adults, children, and people with lung diseases, including asthma and emphysema—should limit their outdoor activities.
  • Use household and garden chemicals wisely. Use paints and solvents with little or no volatile organic compounds. Be sure to read labels for proper use and disposal.
  • Keep cars, trucks, and gas-powered lawn and garden equipment properly tuned and maintained to reduce air pollution.
  • Consider an electric vehicle when it’s time for your next vehicle purchase. Visit www.drivegreen.nj.gov to assess affordability, find state and federal incentives, and learn about charging options.

 

For more New Jersey air quality facts, suggested actions for Air Quality Awareness Week, and New Jersey programs to reduce your exposure, visit www.cleanair.nj.gov, New Jersey’s website to educate the public about what they can do to help improve air quality. Follow this effort on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NJDEP-Air-Quality-Energy-and-Sustainability-811744782277426/.

 

Get the daily air quality forecast. Sign up for EnviroFlash, (www.enviroflash.info), a free online alert system, that delivers air quality information straight to your email inbox or cell phone.  Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your local air quality. This helps you decide when to limit or avoid over-exertion on poorer air quality days or to change the time of day of strenuous outdoor activity to early morning or late evening.