As summer approaches, concerns about air quality and ozone levels are on the rise. Thanks to smartphones and local weather forecasts, it’s easy to keep track of air quality and make informed decisions to ensure personal safety.
Dr. Tracey Holloway, a professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, is an expert in studying air quality and the various chemicals present in the air that can impact human health. She also leads a team for NASA focused on making satellite data more useful for decision-making related to air quality and public health.
The federal government uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to measure air quality, with green indicating good conditions, yellow for moderate, orange for unhealthy for sensitive groups, red for unhealthy, purple or maroon representing extremely hazardous conditions.
In southeast Texas, factors such as ozone pollution from cars and factories, wildfire smoke, factory emissions and Saharan dust affect air quality. Dr. Holloway warns that different chemicals in the air can have different impacts on human health; respiratory issues like asthma are just one example.
Air pollution has been linked to negative health outcomes such as shorter life expectancies, heart disease exacerbation, adverse birth outcomes and other negative effects on health in more severe cases. Dr. Holloway stresses that cleaner air leads to healthier living overall.
On days when air quality is poor, it’s recommended that people stay indoors to avoid exposure to harmful chemicals in the air. Using an air filtration system can also help improve indoor air quality when necessary. Stay updated with Briana Conner on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information on this topic.
