Tag Archives: asthma

Environment, News, Transportation, Weather

Will South Seattle Enter the Ozone Zone this Weekend?

Ozone levels were high south of Seattle last Sunday? Hmm. What could have been a culprit? Hard to pick out just one thing… (Photo: MvB)

If you have been driving while it’s very hot out, mowing the lawn, burning things, or using aerosols, the state’s Department of Ecology is cross with you. Last Sunday after just a few days of actual summer weather, southeast King County exceeded the federal health-based standard for ozone in the air, which is another way of saying it’s too smoggy. With highs near 80 forecast for this weekend, air quality is expected to deteriorate again.

The federal line in the smog, if you’re curious, is .075 parts per million, averaged over eight hours. The DOE is anxious that “normal” summer temperatures don’t result in areas regularly straying over the EPA’s ozone threshold, as this can result in stricter regulation of industries that release polluting emissions.

“Unhealthy ozone levels can affect everyone, but they especially pose risks for people with lung and heart diseases, children, older adults, and people who are active,” notes the DOE. It’s counterintuitive, given that so many people wait eagerly for an 80 degree summer day in the Northwest, but if smog develops, you’re advised not to spend much time outdoors in it. It inflames your lung tissue, exacerbating asthma, and potentially increasing the chance of pneumonia or bronchitis.

To check on how your area is doing, you can visit the DOE’s air monitor map. Click on the green dot nearest you to get a report on conditions.

Health, News, Science

Grass is Everywhere Right Now

Thanks to Cliff Mass and his post on fireworks-induced air pollution, I’ve fallen down the air quality rabbit hole on the internet. I was curious anyway because yesterday in the park I started coughing so hard I had to stumble home, watery-eyed.

Bremerton, Puyallup, and Everett all made leaps into “Unhealthy” air quality the night of July 4, from the amount of particulate in the air. Those of you who are anti-boom-boom will be pleased to know that Cliff Mass is on your side:

There was a lot of concern about the Fukushima radiation a few months ago, but quite frankly the health and other ill-effects of the fireworks are far, far greater. Not only was the air quality highly degraded last night but several kids lost fingers, one teenager was killed, a number of homes were torched, and how many dogs/cats were left shaking in a corner?

But now that the explosives are packed away, we still have to contend with an insidious foe: grass. AirNOW shows ozone and particulate levels are fine, but the Northwest Asthma and Allergy Center shows grass pollen registering at High (“Most individuals with any sensitivity to these pollens will experience symptoms”). Trees and weeds, not so much. The National Allergy Bureau Pollen and Mold Report backs these findings up.

If your nose is running, expect it to keep up for another week, as the grass season lasts until mid-July.