the code? , and air pollution poses little or no concern. go outside … quality/airaware... ·...

2
Do You Know e Code? Do You Know e Code? Learn how air pollution can be harmful to older adults and how to protect your health. To learn more visit: www.ncair.org/airawareness/knowthecode Contact us: N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality [email protected] 919-707-8400 1641 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1641 0 copies of this document were printed at a cost of $0 or $0.000 per copy. 03-17-2015 Meaning Air Quality Code Very Unhealthy Unhealthy Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Moderate Good Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no concern. Go outside and enjoy the day! There may be a moderate health concern for people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Older adults, children, active people and those with heart or lung disease may experience health effects. Limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Older adults, children, active people and those with heart or lung disease may experience more serious health effects. Everyone may experience health effects. Limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Everyone is likely to be affected. Avoid all outdoor exertion. Get the daily forecast at 1-800-RU4NCAIR (784-6224) or www.ncair.org

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Page 1: The Code? , and air pollution poses little or no concern. Go outside … Quality/airaware... · 2018. 6. 19. · Particulate Matter Particulate matter (or particle pollution) is a

Do You Know The Code?

Do You Know The Code?

Learn how air pollution can be harmful to older adults and how to protect your health.

To learn more visit:

www.ncair.org/airawareness/knowthecode

Contact us:

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Division of Air Quality

[email protected]

919-707-8400

1641 Mail Service Center Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1641

0 copies of this document were printed at a cost of $0 or $0.000 per copy. 03-17-2015

Mean

ingAi

r Qua

lity C

ode

Ve

ryUn

healt

hy

Unhe

althy

Unhe

althy

for S

ensit

ive

Grou

ps

Mode

rate

Good

Air q

ualit

y is c

onsid

ered

satis

fact

ory,

and

air p

ollu

tion

pose

s litt

leor

no

conc

ern.

Go

outs

ide a

nd en

joy t

he d

ay!

Ther

e may

be a

mod

erat

e hea

lth co

ncer

n fo

r peo

ple w

ho ar

eun

usua

lly se

nsiti

ve to

air p

ollu

tion.

Con

sider

limiti

ng p

rolo

nged

or h

eavy

exer

tion

outd

oors

. Ol

der a

dults

, chi

ldre

n, ac

tive p

eopl

e and

thos

e with

hea

rt or

lung

di

seas

e may

expe

rienc

e hea

lth ef

fect

s. Li

mit

prol

onge

d or

hea

vyex

ertio

n ou

tdoo

rs.

Olde

r adu

lts, c

hild

ren,

activ

e peo

ple a

nd th

ose w

ith h

eart

or lu

ng d

iseas

e may

ex

perie

nce m

ore s

erio

us h

ealth

effe

cts.

Ever

yone

may

expe

rienc

e hea

lth ef

fect

s. Li

mit

prol

onge

d or

hea

vy ex

ertio

n ou

tdoo

rs.

Ever

yone

is lik

ely to

be a

ffect

ed. A

void

all o

utdo

or ex

ertio

n.

Get

the

daily

fore

cast

at 1

-800

-RU

4NC

AIR

(784

-622

4) o

r ww

w.n

cair.

org

Page 2: The Code? , and air pollution poses little or no concern. Go outside … Quality/airaware... · 2018. 6. 19. · Particulate Matter Particulate matter (or particle pollution) is a

Particulate Matter Particulate matter (or particle pollution) is a mixture of microscopic solids and liquid droplets suspended in the air. These airborne particles are the main ingredients of haze and smoke. Particulate matter is produced when fuels such as coal, wood or oil are burned.

Health Effects of Air PollutionExposure to particulate matter and ground-level ozone can cause varying health effects. While everyone can be affected by air pollution, older adults can be particularly susceptible to the effects.

Effects of short-term exposure may include:• Irritation of eyes, nose and throat• Coughing• Chest tightness• Shortness of breath• Aggravation of asthma or other

respiratory diseases

Long-term exposure can reduce lung function and lead to the development of chronic bronchitis.

The longer you are outdoors and the more strenuous your activity will increase your chances of being affected by particulate matter or ozone.

Air PollutionOn average, each person breathes more than 3,000 gallons of air each day. Local air quality affects how you breathe and live and can change daily or even hourly due to pollution. In North Carolina, two of the major types of air pollution are particulate matter and ground-level ozone.

The

best

way

to p

rote

ct y

our h

ealth

is to

get

the

air q

ualit

y fo

reca

st (c

ode)

of t

he a

ir p

ollu

tion

leve

ls in

you

r are

a an

d ta

ke st

eps t

o m

inim

ize

expo

sure

.

Ground-level ozone Ground-level ozone is a highly reactive form of oxygen. It is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers and other sources react chemically with the presence of sunlight. One of the problems with ozone pollution is that you cannot see it. KN

OW

TH

E C

OD

E!Th

e ai

r qua

lity

code

is fo

reca

sted

dai

ly

and

you

can

get t

he co

de in

seve

ral w

ays:

•C

all t

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ll fr

ee n

umbe

r:

1-80

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(784

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the

DA

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te: w

ww

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EPA

web

site

: ww

w.a

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w.g

ov

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et e

mai

ls s

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tly to

you

r in

box

thro

ugh

ww

w.e

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ofla

sh.in

fo

•D

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oad

the

Air

Now

app

for

iPho

ne o

r A

ndro

id

TIPS

TO

PRO

TEC

T YO

UR

HEA

LTH

•Pla

n ou

tdoo

r act

iviti

es, f

or th

e m

orni

ng

and

early

eve

ning

. •A

djus

t whe

n an

d w

here

you

exe

rcise

, as

ozo

ne p

ollu

tion

tend

s to

be g

reat

est

durin

g th

e ho

ttest

par

ts o

f the

day

. •R

educ

e an

act

ivity

that

requ

ires h

eavy

ex

ertio

n to

one

with

mod

erat

e ex

ertio

n (i.

e. w

alk

rath

er th

an ru

n).

•K

NO

W T

HE

CO

DE!

C

heck

the

daily

air

qual

ity

fore

cast

(cod

e) w

hen

you

will

be

goin

g ou

tsid

e.