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Metro Atlanta Has First Bad Air Quality Day This Year

Clean Air Campaign says streak was due to cooler temps, rain.

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Wednesday snapped a record-breaking string of healthy air days this year when the metro Atlanta had its first bad air day, according to The Clean Air Campaign.

The area experienced its first ozone exceedance Tuesday, July 30. This year has been the longest the area has gone in a calendar year without experiencing such an exceedance, thanks to the cooler weather and rain this summer. The previous record was July 14, 1997.

With school starting in the next few weeks and travel rising back to peak levels, the campaign is encouraging commuters to carpool, telework or take transit when possible, and sign up for Smog Alerts so they know when air quality is expected to be poor.

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"It has been shown that climate warming and higher carbon dioxide levels will produce longer pollen seasons," Dr. Grace Chiang said, who has patients from Paulding County. "For example, ragweed flowers earlier and produces more pollen in urban areas where carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures are higher. When carbon dioxide levels double, individual ragweed plant pollen production increases 30 to 90 percent. This can be seen with other allergenic species as well, including poison ivy.

"In addition, more hot, sunny summer days will generate ozone, which may lead to more symptoms for those at risk of asthma and breathing difficulties. Young children with asthma can begin having symptoms at approximately 60 ppb, and healthy young adults have experienced decreased lung function and increased inflammation in the airways at this level.  In most US cities, warnings are issued when levels reach 125 ppb. Patients with asthma may need to remain indoors when ozone levels are elevated. It can also be helpful to work with an allergist to develop an asthma action plan in order to optimize preventive care and be prepared if asthma symptoms should occur."
Chiang has practice locations at 4500 N Cooper Lake Rd, Smyrna and 3939 Roswell Rd., Marietta, 770-333-2027. 

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