Is San Diego’s air unfit to breath?
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), the answer may be a scary yes.
In the ALA’s recently released 2006 report on the State of the Air, San Diego received two “F” grades and one “Pass.”
Despite what sounds like a failing report card, the news is not all gloomy. The city has raised its grade from “Fail” to “Pass” on one of the measures of particulate air pollution.
The report ranks cities and counties with the dirtiest air, and provides county-level report cards on the two most pervasive air pollutants: particle pollution and ozone. And according to the report, almost 3 million people in San Diego County are breathing air with dangerously high levels of both.
“Ozone is a powerful lung irritant,” said Jan Cortez, vice president for environment, the ALA of San Diego and Imperial Counties. “So are particulate matters, and in addition to irritating the lungs, they contribute to heart attacks and strokes.”
Just where does San Diego’s pollution come from? More than 50 percent of the ozone comes from automobiles, according to Cortez. “Particulate matter also comes from cars, trucks, off-road construction equipment and power plants,” she said.
Another source for particulates is from wood-burning fires, especially the burning of high-moisture wood, Cortez said.
“San Diego County needs to implement measures to eliminate particulate matter from burning. I believe in the next few years we will regulate wood-burning in the home so that when you sell your home, your fireplace will either have to be taken out or replaced with an insert that will cause less particulate matter to be generated.”
The county also needs to educate the public not to burn wood with a high moisture content because that smolders more, producing more smoke.
“We need more emphasis on controls for construction pollution, such as requiring covering for removing dirt to prevent it from re-entering the air space,” said Cortez.
As for the large portion of pollution caused by vehicles, Cortez predicted that the country will see a newer fleet of less polluting cars.
Commercial trucks, however, can last for years. The county already has a pilot project for particulate filter traps for trucks, especially those entering the United States from Mexico. Another possible solution would be for diesel engines to be replaced with natural gas engines.
There are many things that San Diegans can do to help fight air pollution. It’s essential to change some of our habits: drive less and carpool whenever practical; practice gas-saving habits when driving; consider buying a hybrid vehicle when buying a car; discontinue wood burning at home, especially during the winter months when the particulate level is more elevated; and support clean air laws.
Some tips on saving money on gas while fighting air pollution include avoiding transporting excess weight by removing unnecessary, heavy items from your vehicle; driving less by combining vehicle trips and sharing rides and keepin tire pressures up to standard.
Also, avoid aggressive driving such as “jackrabbit starts” and excessive speed.
For personal protection, people should minimize exposure to ozone and particle pollution by avoiding exercising near high-traffic areas. They should also avoid exercising outdoors at all when pollution levels are high.
“Try to keep 500 feet away from high traffic areas when exercising,” Cortez said.
In a final important note, Cortez suggested that San Diegans try to make their communities as green as possible.
“Encourage tree planting,” she said, as trees help purify the air and also produce oxygen.
To read the full report, visit www.lungusa.com.