It’s hazy, hot and humid, and weather forecasters are saying the air quality level is code orange. What does that mean for you and me?
Well, according to Punita Ponda, MD, Assistant Division Chief of Allergy and Immunology at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, once the air quality index is greater than 100, it could be harmful to those sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants, including children, the elderly, and people with asthma, cardiac conditions or lung disease.
“For these people, a multitude of symptoms can be brought on by the environmental triggers,” said Dr. Ponda.
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Among the most common symptoms:
- coughing
- throat, nose or eye irritation
- chest pain
- nausea
- congestion
- a burning sensation in the back of their throat
- a higher risk of pulmonary infections
“Any of the these symptoms can make the underlying conditions like asthma or the heart issues be a lot worse,” said Dr. Ponda. As a result, these individuals should limit strenuous outdoor physical activity.
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When the air quality level is higher than 150 (code red), everyone may begin to experience health effects, said Dr. Ponda.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local air quality agencies nationwide measure and report five major air pollutants in the air quality index:
- ground level ozone
- particulate matter
- carbon monoxide
- sulfur dioxide
- nitrogen dioxide
“Ground level ozone and particulate matter are the two most important in terms of health effects,” said Dr. Ponda.
Ground level ozone occurs when pollutants (emitted by sources such as cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, and chemical plants) react chemically in sunlight, according to the EPA.
Particulate matter is the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke.
And if you think the air quality level is only a concern in the warm weather, think again.
“In the summer time, the ozone levels can rise, the UV radiation from the sun converts certain volatile organic compounds in the air to the ozone so that’s why you notice in the summer that there are more air quality alert days in New York, but the particulate matter can be present and be a problem in the winter as well,” said Dr. Ponda.
Click here for more information about the air quality index.
