Air District Issues Spare the Air Smog Alert

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued the third Spare the Air Health Alert for smog in 2011 Thursday - possibly putting a kink in the weekend plans of prospective barbecuers and gardeners this Labor Day.

“A brief spike in temperatures tomorrow is expected to contribute to unhealthy air quality in the Bay Area,” Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District, said Thursday. “Unhealthy air quality can be avoided if we reduce our driving by taking public transit, carpooling, biking or walking to work.”

BAAQMD spokesperson Kristine Roselius said Friday's air quality is forecast to be unhealthy. There is no free transit planned and no ban against wood-burning fires in place but residents are encouraged to take public transit to work, she said. The Air District encourages residents to drive less and reduce their energy use every day so pollution levels are lower, preventing health alerts when temperatures are high.

Here's a list of simple things the public can do to make clean air choices every day:

•               Bike to work or around town

•               Take public transit

•               Work at home or telecommute

•               Carpool and link your errands to reduce driving

•               Avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers

•               Reduce household energy use

•               Don’t use lighter fluid on the barbecue

•               Avoid using aerosol spray cleaners, paints and hairspray

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the Bay Area. For more information about Spare the Air, visit HERE.