Bay Area Spare The Air Alert Issued For Saturday

BAY AREA, CA — The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the regional agency responsible for protecting the air quality in the nine-county Bay Area, has issued a Spare the Air alert for Saturday for smog.

The air quality is forecast to be unhealthy Saturday; a strong high-pressure system leading to triple-digit temperatures combined with light winds and vehicle exhaust is expected to cause unhealthy smog, or ozone, accumulation in the Bay Area, officials with the Air District said Friday in a news release.

During a Spare the Air alert, Bay Area residents are encouraged to limit their driving. Further, outdoor exercise should be undertaken only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower, the Air District said.

"We encourage Bay Area residents to find alternatives to driving this Labor Day weekend to help reduce harmful smog pollution and protect public health," said Sharon Landers, interim executive officer of the Air District. "We can reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by taking transit, instead of driving alone this holiday weekend."

It marks the fourth Spare the Air alert for 2022. The alerts are issued when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. According to the Air District, ozone can cause throat irritation, congestion and chest pain. It can trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. Long-term exposure can reduce lung function. Ozone pollution is particularly harmful for young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions.