How Is The Air Quality In Los Angeles
The amount of pollution in our air is a major concern, especially for those with health conditions like asthma or respiratory disease. These diseases can be made much worse by poor air quality. Fortunately, there are many ways to reduce your exposure to polluted air.
You may know that cars are a significant source of air pollution, so limiting how often you drive is one way to help preserve the air you breathe. If possible, try to use public transportation instead of driving every day.
Another important factor in reducing outdoor air pollution is ensuring that your home’s ventilation system works properly. Make sure all doors and windows are tight fitting, and check to see if any cracks exist around them.
If necessary, you can purchase special filters for your house that will aid in purifying the air you breath. Using these as needed is an easy way to keep your lungs healthy.
Overall, being aware of the levels of pollution in your area and doing what you can to mitigate the effects is a worthy investment in your long-term wellness.
Keep reading to learn more about some specific tips on improving your indoor and outdoor air quality in Los Angeles.
There are many sources of pollution in Los Angeles
The number one source of air pollution in Los Angeles is actually something most people enjoy during our city’s spring season: wildfires!
Wildfire smoke can contain high levels of both ozone and particulate matter, both of which pose serious health risks to individuals with certain medical conditions.
Ozone can have harmful effects on your respiratory system, while particles can cause lung inflammation or infection, especially for those who are sensitive or allergic to them.
Although wildfire smoke is sometimes accompanied by announcements about improved air quality due to controlled burns, this usually doesn’t last long enough for the air to clear completely.
And even when it does, other factors may still be creating poor air quality, so it makes sense to do things that will help you breathe better anyway, whether there is a fire going or not.
Vehicle emissions are a large source of pollution
As we discussed, cars play an important part in our daily lives. They help us get around, aid in personal transportation, and sometimes even provide employment for people!
However, cars also contribute to poor air quality in our cities. The exhaust left over from car engines can contain harmful chemicals that negatively affect our health.
Certain gases like nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide are given special attention because they are considered greenhouse gases that have a long-term effect on global warming.
But there are other gasses emitted during vehicle combustion that pose more short term threats to your health. These include airborne particles called particulate matter (PM).
These tiny pieces of debris come from the engine and the burning of fuel, and they can either stay in the atmosphere or be trapped by moisture in the lungs.
When it comes to PMs, some types are much worse than others. For example, diesel vehicles emit higher levels of soot than gasoline engines.
This is due to the way diesel engines work, so changing out your vehicle’s engine type may reduce your exposure.
There are many small sources of pollution
The reason why people have poor air quality is not because there are very few large source pollution, but instead it is due to the number of smaller sources around us. These include things like traffic, power plants, factories, and residential areas where there is no proper waste disposal.
These types of pollution will all contribute to higher levels of particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants in our air. Particulate matter comes from either natural or man-made processes.
Some examples include burning fossil fuels, breaking down biological materials such as dead animals, and manufacturing chemicals. Gases can be emitted during the production of manufactured products, or by bacteria and fungi decomposing organic material.
The difference between gases and particles is just how they affect your body. Gas molecules move through the space surrounding you, while particles get stuck closer to the surface you’re breathing them in against. Both types of air pollutant can cause health issues, so we should try to reduce exposure as much as possible.
Some tips for improving your health when you live in Los Angeles
The most important thing to know about air quality is that it not only changes from area to area, it also changes depending on the season and time of day.
This means that even though there might be very poor air quality in some areas at certain times, it can quickly improve. And likewise, although people may talk about how bad the air is around town, this can sometimes be due to one specific source.
It’s crucial to do your best to reduce pollution outside your home, but looking after your own health is just as important. Here are our top tips for healthy living if you live in LA.
Run your ACs and heaters for long periods of time
Recent developments concerning air quality have focused more attention on how important it is to use windows, doors and other sources to regulate temperature and ventilation.
This is especially true during times of poor air quality when pollution has risen due to either natural causes or because people are using too much energy to power equipment and devices.
Fortunately, you can easily increase the efficiency of cooling and heating systems in your home to help mitigate the effects that polluted air has on your health.
By running your air conditioning unit or heater less frequently, you reduce the amount of energy used to achieve the same result. This also helps prevent any additional pollutants from being pumped into the air we breathe.
There are some basic things you can do to make your HVAC units run as efficiently as possible. Here are some tips that may help you on this journey to better air quality.
Use a dust mask when you are outside
An increase in air pollution has people talking about how to reduce it, and what things can do harm. One of the biggest sources of air pollution is your house or apartment’s A/C system.
When your AC works, it uses chemicals to evaporate water out of the air. These chemical compounds include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrocarbons.
Most CFCs were once used for refrigeration and cleaning products but have been banned since 1994. Hydrocarbons are simple molecules that contain hydrogen and carbon.
Some examples of hydrocarbon pollutants are found naturally occurring gases like methane and propane or manufactured ones such as gasoline.
You may be familiar with these gases because they're often mentioned during weather reports, especially when there's a big storm.
But what if we told you that even calm days could pose health problems? Even without a significant change in temperature, an idle AC unit will still produce some hydrocarbons!
This article will go into more detail about the dangers of ac air quality and tips on improving the air you breathe while using your AC.
Check the air quality in your neighborhood
Recent reports indicate that the level of pollution in our area is quite poor at this time. This isn’t too surprising given that we have been experiencing some of the most severe wildfires in California history as well as very high temperatures. These conditions can only fuel the growth of airborne particles, including those made of or containing smoke.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to reduce the amount of pollutants you expose to by changing how you navigate around town and what kind of activities you participate in. By being more aware of the levels of pollution in your community, you will know when it is and isn’t safe to go outside, which can help mitigate the harmful effects of exposure.
If you live near one of the many areas with poor air quality, don’t hesitate to ask yourself whether it’s worth putting yourself through potential health risks. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, throat irritation, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue.
It may be tempting to stay inside but should really be avoided if possible since staying active helps lower blood pressure and stress hormones like cortisol, both of which increase during times of environmental stress. Unfortunately, doing so while exposed to heavy amounts of polluted air can cause additional problems like bronchial inflammation and worsening asthma.
Play it cool
Although some days may feel like you’re breathing pure ozone, most are fine! Most of your outdoor activity can help mitigate poor air quality.
Drinking enough water and eating fruits and vegetables helps keep you hydrated and healthy. As for foods, try to eat more plants by choosing green veggies, berries, and nuts.
Biking is an excellent way to get moving as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions. If you have to drive somewhere, use public transportation or take the bus instead of driving.
If necessary, stay inside until the air has cleared. Avoid going outside when possible so people do not need to go out.
Hopefully these tips will give you a sense of normalcy while we all practice social distancing.
Air pollution is harmful to our health, but only when there are too many pollutants present in the air. By limiting how often you interact with others and practicing good hygiene, you limit exposure to other factors that affect air quality.