Active children and adults... should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

So what does that mean exactly? We can sit outside only? What will happen if I exert my self outside.

Scroll down at the Code orange link for answers:

Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, causing coughing, throat irritation, and/or an uncomfortable sensation in the chest.

Ozone can reduce lung function and make it more difficult to breathe deeply and vigorously. Breathing may become more rapid and shallow than normal. This may limit a person's ability to engage in vigorous activities.

Ozone can aggravate asthma. When ozone levels are high, more people with asthma have attacks that require a doctor's attention or use of medication. One reason this happens is that ozone makes people more sensitive to allergens such as pets, pollen, and dust mites, which are common triggers of asthma attacks.

Ozone can increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

Ozone can inflame and damage the lining of the lungs. Within a few days, the damaged cells are shed and replaced-much like the skin peels after a sunburn. Studies suggest that if this type of inflammation happens repeatedly over a long time period (months, years, a lifetime), lung tissue may become permanently scarred, resulting in permanent loss of lung function and a lower quality of life.

Ick!

What will happen if I exert my self outside.

Bubba?

Bizgrrl, I love it when you talk dirty, but, Dear, you are promised to another...

Ok, actually, I was wondering the same thing. And for those of us who keep the windows open, does this mean we can't exert ourselves indoors either? This could be very frustrating!

It really should say "should avoid heavy exertion" as your indoor and outdoor ozone levels are going to be no different, windows open or not. I think the EPA assumes anybody indoors is pretty much sitting on their butt watching TV.

One thing to be aware of- the EPA "Air Quality Index" looks at two pollutants- ozone and particulate. Ozone is mostly a breathing difficulty pollutant, while particulate is more of a risk for people with cardiac issues.

Here's the problem- the EPA calculates an AQI for both pollutant, and then just reports the highest of the two numbers, without taking into account synergistic effects (e.g., when ozone is high, your body can't tolerate high particulate levels as well). The science on this is still emerging, but when the AQI is orange, both health risk groups should limit exertion, and even healthy adults shouldn't overdo it.

As a final note- one thing everyone can do is reduce engine idling during the summer. Break your habit of going through the drive-through window- park and walk in. If you stop at the movie theatre to pick up your kid, roll down your windows and turn off the engine. As we head into non-attainment, you'll start to see some government-level anti-idling measures as well, I suspect (school buses, KAT, etc). But it takes years to undo bad habits.

-Steve

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Fighting for Reform and Representation, Fourth District
Steve Drevik, Commission Seat 4-B
(link...)

Funny, I hadn't read the latest comments here when I posted this. It's ironic that diesels, which are mostly fleet vehicles including government, are probably the biggest offenders, since they normally idle for long periods and produce more ozone forming oxides of nitrogen.

Maybe the president's cure-all of "technology" should work toward a practical way to produce an SCR device that can be effective as a retrofit for older diesels.

Still, diesels are even worse for the climate than gasoline.

One of my energy efficiency measures is shutting off the car/truck at a long red light. Blount ave at Chapman is particularly snoozeworthy. Although I still do the drive thru I try to turn off my motor while waiting in line. Particularly if there's a full car ahead of me, you know that order is going to take a lot of time. No need to advance either if there's no one behind you.

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Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs

the mayors need to get on their bully pulpits and ask folks to drive less, drive smaller, shut their engines off when parking, and turn their a/c off when it's 65° outside.

i offer county hangtags to the idlers and they're usually responsive - positively.