LA Has Terrible Air Quality. How To Minimize Your Exposure

Los Angeles has the worst ozone pollution in the nation, according to an annual report by the American Lung Association.

The area also received failing grades for high particulate matter.

The "State of the Air” report found that, nationally, nearly 4 in 10 people live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution, but cities in the western U.S. dominated the list.

California had the most metro areas on the list, with 10 of the 25 most polluted cities in the country, according to the report. After the Los Angeles metro area, the top ozone-polluted cities include Visalia, Bakersfield, and the Fresno area, followed by Phoenix, Arizona.

What is ozone?

Ozone is a gas found in the Earth’s atmosphere. High above us in the stratosphere, the ozone layer is beneficial, absorbing some of the sun’s harmful UV radiation and preventing it from reaching Earth’s surface.

But ozone pollution, which happens when emissions react under heat and sunlight, is harmful to our health. It produces ground-level ozone, also known as smog, which can damage the respiratory tract and lungs, resulting in symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness and worsening of asthma.

What causes ozone pollution?

Ozone forms near the ground when pollutants and some natural compounds react with sunlight, heat and wildfire smoke.

Air pollution emitted by transportation — including diesel trucks, trains, planes and cars — refineries and power plants were the main causes of ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association.

Hazardous particles in the air from previous wildfires are tiny enough to enter the bloodstream and cause a number of health problems, including asthma attacks and lung cancer.

Minimize ozone exposure

Ozone levels vary day to day. An easy way to check current conditions is by using the Air Quality Index from the Environmental Protection Agency. The tool gives an immediate color-coded indication of air quality and can also be used to help avoid fine particle pollution as well.

There’s also an app. The free AirVisual app displays data in real-time from sensors located throughout the world, and provides air-quality alerts, forecasts, and health recommendations by location. The Los Angeles region and L.A. Unified School District (more on their air sensors below) are part of the network.

What should I do when the air quality is bad?

When ground-level ozone levels are high, take steps to limit the amount of air you breathe in while you’re outside. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends:

• Spending more time indoors, where ozone levels are usually lower.
• Plan outdoor activities at times when ozone levels are lower (usually in the morning and evening).
• Choose easier outdoor activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.

Some groups of people are more at risk of illness and death than others, because they are more likely to be exposed, or are more vulnerable to health harm, or often both, according to the American Lung Association.

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Courtesy of the American Lung Association.

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How to find air quality information at your child’s school

Every school within the Los Angeles Unified School District has an air quality network sensor within about 1.6 miles. Even if your child doesn’t attend a school in the district, you can use the interactive tool to determine air quality by looking at data from the sensors nearest to your child’s daycare or school or download the free AirVisual app, which also displays all of the LAUSD sensors.

The devices measure the concentration of fine particles in the air. They do not measure greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide toxic air contaminants, or oxides of nitrogen or sulfur dioxide, according to the district’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety.

School principals can restrict outdoor activities if air quality is poor, but only the superintendent has the authority to close a school, according to the district.