Spare the Air Day for Monday October 1st

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has declared tomorrow, Monday, Oct. 1st, to be a "Spare the Air Day."

From the District's website (www.baaqmd.gov), they explain:

During the summer months when ground-level ozone, or "smog," becomes a pollution problem, the Air District issues Spare the Air alerts for days on which air quality is forecast to be unhealthy.

On these Spare the Air days, we urge residents to cut back on any activities that cause pollution - such as driving, using oil-based paints, gasoline-powered lawn mowers, or household aerosol products like hair sprays. People who are sensitive to unhealthy air are advised to limit their time outdoors, particularly in the afternoon hours.

 Gardening is a great way for you to improve the quality of our air, as plants absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. If you don’t have a backyard, plant herbs and flowers in pots at work or at home; it’s certain to better our air and lift your spirits.

Paradoxically, many gardening tools and products are among the worst air-offenders. The lawn mower, perhaps America’s most ubiquitous gardening tool, can be an enormous polluter. Running a gas-powered mower for an hour creates as much pollution as driving an old car for 100 miles. If you have a gas mower at home, consider replacing it with an electric or push mower.