Is The Air Affecting My Health?
Is it fog or smog? Is the air affecting my health? If you live in a metropolitan area, you’ve likely asked yourself these questions. So Pay attention to air quality perhaps more than most. But whether you have a child with breathing issues, a parent with heart disease, or you just want to know if you should run outdoors on smoggy days, it’s useful—and important—to understand the basics. The Air Quality Index, or AQI, measures current or forecasted air quality. It consists of two measures: Particulate Matter (PM) and ozone. When you hear PM, think of solid and liquid airborne particles. While tiny, these particles can be harmful to our lungs. Even healthy people may experience eye, nose, and throat irritation from high PM levels. Those with asthma tend to struggle breathing, be more susceptible to respiratory infections and have worsened symptoms such as wheezing and coughing. Ozone is a pungent, pale blue gas that occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere. Unfortunately, it...