News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Danielle LeCompte Zaleski
American Lung Association of Arizona
(520) 323-1812
Beth Gorman
Pima County Environmental Quality
(520) 740-3343
Tucson, Arizona (May 22, 2006) The Pima County Department
of Environmental Quality and the American Lung Association of
Arizona are issuing an Air Quality Advisory for
Monday, May 22, 2006
This advisory is being issued because Pima Department of Environmental
Quality (PDEQ) monitoring sites have recorded elevated particulate
pollution levels. Unusually sensitive individuals with lung or
heart disease may experience respiratory symptoms. If individuals
are sensitive to particulate pollution, they may want to reduce
their level of outside exercise. If windy conditions continue,
unusually sensitive individuals may want to curtail outdoor activities
tomorrow.
Scientific studies have linked breathing particulate matter to
a series of significant health problems, including: aggravated
asthma; increases in respiratory symptoms like coughing and difficult
or painful breathing; throat irritation, chronic bronchitis;
decreased lung function; and premature death.
Particulates come
from a variety of sources such as cars, trucks, buses, power
plants, factories, construction sites, tilled fields and cleared
land, unpaved roads, stone crushing, wood burning, and wildfires.
In addition, wind-borne particulates can travel into the valley
from other areas or be generated locally.
Actions to reduce the
production of particulate matter include:
• Avoid driving on dirt roads, if no options – drive
slowly to reduce dust emissions;
• Ride the bus, bicycle, walk or share a ride with friends
and family;
• Reduce driving - combine errands into one trip;
• Keep vehicles well-tuned and tires properly inflated;
• Reduce recreational fireplace and BBQ use;
• Conserve electricity;
• Control dust from cleared land and other sources with
dust suppressants or drought resistant vegetation; and
• Drive off-road vehicles slowly and away from homes to
reduce dust emissions and exposure.
Air pollution levels are available online at the PDEQ website
www.airinfonow.org or by calling the PDEQ hotline at (520) 882-4AIR.
For more information on lung health issues, contact the ALAA
at (520) 323-1812 or www.lungaz.org.
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