Winter Air Quality
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The winter season presents itself with special air quality challenges. Temperature inversions are common during winter, trapping air pollution near the Earth's surface where we live and breathe. On cold and calm days, pollutants— especially fine particles from wood heating—can build to unhealthful levels. When this occurs, Spokane Clean Air may issue a temporary restriction on wood heating. (Manito photo courtesy of Alan Bisson)
Why care about clean air?
Air pollution affects us all, especially the young and elderly, and those suffering from respiratory and heart ailments. With every breath you take, your lungs are exposed to the world around you, filtering over 2,000 gallons of air a day. Breathing dirty air hurts the body by inflaming and destroying lung tissue, and weakens the lungs' defenses against contaminants and infection. Air pollution also irritates the circulatory system aggrivating exiting cardio-vascular conditions.
Over 520,000 people in Washington state have asthma. For them, air pollution—even at moderate levels—may mean discomfort, limited activities, increased use of medications, more frequent visits to doctors, emergency rooms, and even a shortened life. People with chronic heart and lung diseases impacted to pollutants in the air as well.
Even healthy people can suffer when pollution levels are high. Symptoms may include watery eyes, runny nose, coughing and wheezing. Breathing dirty air is especially hard on the elderly, pregnant women, as well as young children and infants whose lungs are still developing.
You can help clean the air!
You can help reduce pollution in various aspects of your day or week. Click on the categories below for ideas:
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