First Air Quality Alert of 2014 Issued for Tomorrow, August 5, 2014

OZONE PREDICTED TO REACH UNHEALTHY LEVELS TOMORROW

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An ORANGE level Air Quality Alert for ozone has been issued for Middle Tennessee for TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2014. This is the first Air Quality Alert of the 2014 ozone season, which is unusual for the Middle Tennessee area where Air Alert Season officially begins in April.

“Cooler than average temperatures for most of the summer helped keep the air quality in check,” said Becky Taylor, CAP Program Director. “But with hot dry weather moving into the area, this air alert was not a surprise.”

The Air Quality Alert means that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is forecasting tomorrow’s ozone levels to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with lung disease such as asthma, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors should limit prolonged exertion outdoors tomorrow.

“Children are especially susceptible to ozone because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more for their body size compared to adults,” said Melissa Stevens, CAP Communications Director. “We recommend trying to limit children’s strenuous outdoor activity tomorrow. The same is true for adults who like to exercise outside.”

To help lessen the effects of tomorrow’s ozone levels, the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee encourages citizens to incorporate smarter driving habits into their daily routines.

“Ozone is a very reactive pollutant, so individuals can actually help reduce the ozone tomorrow by making a few simple changes,” said Stevens. “We recommend trying your best to reduce your driving — take public transit, avoid driving during peak traffic periods if you can, and skip the drive thru at fast food restaurants and banks.”

The Clean Air Partnership is urging citizens to consider taking the following steps on Air Quality Alert days:

• Carpool or take the train or bus at least once a week and on air alert days.
• Combine errands into a single trip, and reduce or postpone trips in your car.
• Reduce idling: Schedule your day to avoid driving during peak traffic times, and skip the drive-thru and go inside.
• Refuel your car after dusk, when it’s cooler and ozone production has tapered off.
• Postpone the use of gas-powered lawn equipment until the air quality improves.

About Ozone

Ozone is a gas created from chemicals in the air that react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Ozone pollution is more prevalent in the summer months because the strong light from the sun “cooks” the chemicals emitted by cars, power plants, chemical plants and other sources. Cars and trucks commuting to and from metropolitan areas are a major source of the ozone problem. The emissions from thousands of cars – paired with warm weather – lead to Air Quality Alert days and diminished air quality.

About the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee

The Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee is a nonprofit organization focused on air quality in the eight-county area that falls under the Nashville-area Early Action Compact agreement (Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties). CAP works to encourage lifestyle changes by promoting concepts like carpooling, mass transit and regular car maintenance. From issuing Air Quality Alert notices to matching rideshare partners, CAP is a one-stop information source connecting people with the resources they need to make smart transportation choices. Visit the Clean Air Partnership at http://www.itscleartome.org.

Win FREE Tickets to the I AM Festival Concert, Saturday, August 3, 2013

 

The Clean Air Partnership is excited to give away two FREE tickets to the I AM Festival concert! We’ll be giving away the tickets to one lucky @CAPMiddleTN Twitter follower who replies to our tweet mentioning #IAMCleanAir! We’ll draw a random name on Friday, August 2, 2013 at Noon.

Learn more about the festival below.

I AM Festival Offers All-Day Music, Bike Races, Healthy Living Expo and More

MUTEMATH, The Whigs, Flobots, and Nappy Roots are joining together with MNDR, Space Capone, MODOC and Chancellor Warhol from Noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 3 at the Downtown Bicentennial Mall to deliver a high energy concert filled with great music.

The concert—which runs $35 a ticket—takes place in conjunction with I AM Festival, a free community event celebrating healthy, active and happy living. The festival will feature an expo with exhibitors showcasing healthy, active lifestyle products and services, all-day criterium bicycle races, a 5K fun run, a rock climbing wall, zip line, pro BMX demonstrations, kids zone, great food, craft beers and loads of family friendly activities and entertainment.

As part of its mission to weave opportunities for healthy, active living into the fabric of Middle Tennessee, Nashville-based I AM The Engine coordinated this first-of-its-kind event to combine activities of wide-ranging interest. Organizers expect the concert and festival to bring thousands of fans to downtown Nashville, and say that the overall aim for the collaboration is to encourage participants of all ages and economic statuses to activate a more healthy and connected life.

“The varying components of I AM Festival will cater to individuals already committed to living a healthy life, as well as to festival participants who have an open ear and mind to the advantages of one,” said Jonathan Woodsman, chief visionary and founder of I AM The Engine. The festival is a deliberate effort to spread awareness of I AM The Engine’s “live life on all cylinders” message to a diverse set of people. Admission to the festival is free, and it is open to the general public from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“Each event that I AM The Engine coordinates is designed to build a community that applauds and proclaims the advantages of living a healthy, active life. Music is such a powerful mouthpiece to help spread our message,” Woodsman said. “With gatherings such as I AM Festival, we are looking for a receptive audience to help us drive a wave of change. We believe there is an innate desire in each person to live a healthy and happy life—we’re just helping people realize that.”

The concert will feature eight electric performances, ranging from Grammy nominated alternative rock bands to an award-winning Southern rap group. The concert will be held in the park’s amphitheater and accessible to ticket holders only.

Family-friendly sporting events welcome festival attendees, including a free 5K family-fun run that kicks off at 7 a.m. Among the more unique attractions are the fast-paced criterium bicycle races that will occur throughout the day, with heats beginning at 9 a.m. and races lasting into early evening. The closed circuit course involves a short track and participants who battle in a high-intensity competition that makes for an engaging spectator sport.

A plethora of healthy living exhibitors will be set up throughout the festival grounds to help spread I AM The Engine’s message that healthy, active living as a cause for all. Because its platform centers on incorporating healthy eating, physical activity and building positive connections into an individual’s life, the organization gathered dozens of vendors to help attendees see how easy it can be to healthily.

To further complement the healthy living expos, “get active” areas will give I AM Festival attendees an opportunity to engage in rock climbing, zip lining and Frisbee throws, to watch pro BMX trials and demonstrations and many other fun and entertaining activities. A variety of great foods and craft beers will also be available throughout the festival.

To purchase concert tickets, advance register for the bike races or fun run or learn more about I AM Festival activities, go to www.iamfestival.org.

I AM the Engine is a collective of organizations and individuals focused on affecting positive change and collaboration among the citizens of our communities. Through events and programs that provide a pathway for individuals and families to embrace physical activity, healthy eating and building positive relationships with like-minded people, its mission is to fuel a movement that inspires people—of all ages, physical abilities and economic statuses—to live healthy, happy and connected lives. To learn more, visit www.iamtheengine.org or www.facebook.com/iamtheengine.

 

The Clean Air Partnership Needs Your Support

The Clean Air Partnership of Middle TN is experiencing a change in its current funding. We are hoping to raise $5,000 to go toward keeping our “It’s Clear to Me” campaign going. Help us continue to help Middle TN learn more about our air quality and what we can do to improve it. Please consider donating to our organization using the GoFundMe page below.

Donate to the Clean Air Partnership of Middle TN!

Find out more about the campaign at www.itscleartome.org!

First Air Alert of the Season Issued for Saturday, May 25, 2013

 

OZONE PREDICTED TO REACH UNHEALTHY LEVELS TOMORROW

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An ORANGE level Air Quality Alert for ozone has been issued for Middle Tennessee for Saturday, May 25, 2013. This is the first Air Quality Alert of the 2013 ozone season.

The Air Quality Alert means that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is forecasting tomorrow’s ozone levels to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with lung disease such as asthma, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors should limit prolonged exertion outdoors tomorrow.

“Children are especially susceptible to ozone because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more for their body size compared to adults.,” said Melissa Stevens, CAP Communications Director. “We recommend trying to limit children’s strenuous outdoor activity tomorrow. The same is true for adults who like to exercise outside.”

To help lessen the effects of tomorrow’s ozone levels, the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee encourages citizens to incorporate smarter driving habits into their daily routines.

“Ozone is a very reactive pollutant, so individuals can actually help reduce the ozone tomorrow by making a few simple changes,” said Stevens. “We recommend trying your best to reduce your driving — take public transit, avoid driving during peak traffic periods if you can, and skip the drive thru at fast food restaurants and banks.”

The Clean Air Partnership is urging citizens to consider taking the following steps on Air Quality Alert days:

• Carpool or take the train or bus at least once a week and on air alert days.
• Combine errands into a single trip, and reduce or postpone trips in your car.
• Reduce idling: Schedule your day to avoid driving during peak traffic times, and skip the drive-thru and go inside.
• Refuel your car after dusk, when it’s cooler and ozone production has tapered off.
• Postpone the use of gas-powered lawn equipment until the air quality improves.

 

About Ozone

Ozone is a gas created from chemicals in the air that react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Ozone pollution is more prevalent in the summer months because the strong light from the sun “cooks” the chemicals emitted by cars, power plants, chemical plants and other sources. Cars and trucks commuting to and from metropolitan areas are a major source of the ozone problem. The emissions from thousands of cars – paired with warm weather – lead to Air Quality Alert days and diminished air quality.

 

About the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee

The Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee is a nonprofit organization focused on air quality in the eight-county area that falls under the Nashville-area Early Action Compact agreement (Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties). CAP works to encourage lifestyle changes by promoting concepts like carpooling, mass transit and regular car maintenance. From issuing Air Quality Alert notices to matching rideshare partners, CAP is a one-stop information source connecting people with the resources they need to make smart transportation choices. Visit the Clean Air Partnership at http://www.itscleartome.org.

Code Orange Air Alert Issued for Third Day (August 25, 2012)

A Code Orange Air Quality Alert due to ground-level ozone has been issued for the Middle Tennessee area for Saturday, August 25, 2012. This is the 18th alert of the 2012 ozone season as air quality reaches unhealthy levels for those in sensitive groups for the third day this week. With the end of ozone season still over a month away, more residents will likely see additional alerts ahead.

The Air Quality Alert means that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is forecasting tomorrow’s ozone levels to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with lung disease such as asthma, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors should limit prolonged exertion outdoors tomorrow.

To learn what you can do to reduce ground-level ozone tomorrow and every day, check out yesterday’s post!

AIR QUALITY ALERT ISSUED FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2012

An ORANGE level Air Quality Alert for ozone has been issued for the Middle Tennessee region for Friday, August 24, 2012. Individuals with respiratory issues including asthma as well as children, the elderly and those who work or exercise outdoors should use caution. This is the 17th air quality alert of the 2012 ozone season.

What can you do to cut down on ozone pollution?  Check out these tips:

Get Out of Your Car

Try walking or biking to work or to lunch; it’s good exercise! Plus, by leaving your car behind, even just at lunch time, you can save money and help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

Don’t forget to sign up for EnviroFlash e-mails so that you will be notified of expected poor air quality days.

Reduce the amount of driving you do over the next few days. Here are a few ways to start.

• Try combining your errands into a single trip.
• Skip the drive-thru or bring your lunch to work.
• Call a friend and share a ride to work, or take the bus or train.

Refueling

• When refueling your vehicle, stop at the “click.” Spilling 1 ounce of gasoline that evaporates produces the same ozone-producing VOC emissions as a car driving 56 miles.
• Ozone forms when evaporative emissions “bake” in the heat. Refueling your car at night can help prevent formation of ozone, which will keep your lungs healthier.

Fuel Efficiency

Remember, small changes can have a big effect on gas mileage. Here are some suggestions:

• Aggressive driving (rapid acceleration, speeding, and quick braking) can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. Going easy on the gas and brake pedals can save you 15 cents to 96 cents per gallon!
• Driving a typical passenger vehicle at 75 mph uses 18 percent more gasoline than driving at 65 mph. That means you’re paying an additional 20 cents per gallon of gas for every 5 mph over 60 mph you’re driving.
• Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent – saving up to 55 gallons of gas each year.

AIR ALERT ISSUED FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

OZONE PREDICTED TO REACH UNHEALTHY LEVELS TOMORROW

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An ORANGE level Air Quality Alert for ozone has been issued for Middle Tennessee for Thursday, August 23, 2012. This is the 16th alert of the 2012 ozone season as air quality reaches unhealthy levels for those in sensitive groups. Ozone season doesn’t officially end until October, so Middle Tennessee will likely see additional alerts in the months to come.

 

The Air Quality Alert means that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is forecasting tomorrow’s ozone levels to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with lung disease such as asthma, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors should limit prolonged exertion outdoors tomorrow.

“Ozone is a highly reactive pollutant that can irritate the lining of your lungs. Children are especially susceptible to ozone because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more for their body size compared to adults. We recommend trying to limit your children’s strenuous outdoor activity tomorrow,” said Melissa Stevens, CAP communications director. “The same is true for adults who like to exercise outside or have jobs that require exertion outdoors during the heat of the day.”

To help lessen the effects of tomorrow’s ozone levels, the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee encourages citizens to incorporate smarter driving habits into their daily routines.

“As I said, ozone is a very reactive pollutant, so individuals can actually help reduce the ozone in the air tomorrow by making a few simple changes,” said Stevens. “We recommend trying your best to reduce your driving tomorrow — take public transit, avoid driving during peak traffic periods if you can, and skip the drive thru at fast food restaurants and banks.”

The Clean Air Partnership is urging citizens to consider taking the following steps on Air Quality Alert days:

• Carpool or take the train or bus at least once a week and on air alert days.
• Combine errands into a single trip, and reduce or postpone trips in your car.
• Reduce idling: Schedule your day to avoid driving during peak traffic times, and skip the drive-thru and go inside.
• Refuel your car after dusk, when it’s cooler and ozone production has tapered off.
• Postpone the use of gas-powered lawn equipment until the air quality improves.

 

About Ozone

Ozone is a gas created from chemicals in the air that react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Ozone pollution is more prevalent in the summer months because the strong light from the sun “cooks” the chemicals emitted by cars, power plants, chemical plants and other sources. Cars and trucks commuting to and from metropolitan areas are a major source of the ozone problem. The emissions from thousands of cars – paired with warm weather – lead to Air Quality Alert days and diminished air quality.

Air Quality Alert Issued for Wednesday, August 8, 2012

OZONE PREDICTED TO REACH UNHEALTHY LEVELS 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An ORANGE level Air Quality Alert for ozone has been issued for Middle Tennessee for Wednesday, August 8, 2012. This is the 15th alert of the 2012 ozone season as air quality reaches unhealthy levels for those in sensitive groups. Ozone season doesn’t officially end until October, so Middle Tennessee will likely see additional alerts in the months to come.

 

The Air Quality Alert means that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is forecasting tomorrow’s ozone levels to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with lung disease such as asthma, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors should limit prolonged exertion outdoors tomorrow.

“Ozone is a highly reactive pollutant that can irritate the lining of your lungs. Children are especially susceptible to ozone because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more for their body size compared to adults. We recommend trying to limit your children’s strenuous outdoor activity tomorrow,” said Melissa Stevens, CAP communications director. “The same is true for adults who like to exercise outside or have jobs that require exertion outdoors during the heat of the day.”

To help lessen the effects of tomorrow’s ozone levels, the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee encourages citizens to incorporate smarter driving habits into their daily routines.

“As I said, ozone is a very reactive pollutant, so individuals can actually help reduce the ozone in the air tomorrow by making a few simple changes,” said Stevens. “We recommend trying your best to reduce your driving tomorrow — take public transit, avoid driving during peak traffic periods if you can, and skip the drive thru at fast food restaurants and banks.”

The Clean Air Partnership is urging citizens to consider taking the following steps on Air Quality Alert days:

• Carpool or take the train or bus at least once a week and on air alert days.
• Combine errands into a single trip, and reduce or postpone trips in your car.
• Reduce idling: Schedule your day to avoid driving during peak traffic times, and skip the drive-thru and go inside.
• Refuel your car after dusk, when it’s cooler and ozone production has tapered off.
• Postpone the use of gas-powered lawn equipment until the air quality improves.

 

About Ozone

Ozone is a gas created from chemicals in the air that react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Ozone pollution is more prevalent in the summer months because the strong light from the sun “cooks” the chemicals emitted by cars, power plants, chemical plants and other sources. Cars and trucks commuting to and from metropolitan areas are a major source of the ozone problem. The emissions from thousands of cars – paired with warm weather – lead to Air Quality Alert days and diminished air quality.

 

 

About the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee

The Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee is a nonprofit organization focused on air quality in the eight-county area that falls under the Nashville-area Early Action Compact agreement (Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties). CAP works to encourage lifestyle changes by promoting concepts like carpooling, mass transit and regular car maintenance. From issuing Air Quality Alert notices to matching rideshare partners, CAP is a one-stop information source connecting people with the resources they need to make smart transportation choices. Visit the Clean Air Partnership at http://www.itscleartome.org.

Air Quality Alert Issued for Thursday, August 2, 2012

OZONE PREDICTED TO REACH UNHEALTHY LEVELS TOMORROW

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An ORANGE level Air Quality Alert for ozone has been issued for Middle Tennessee for Thursday, August 2, 2012. This is the 14th alert of the 2012 ozone season.

The Air Quality Alert means that the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is forecasting tomorrow’s ozone levels to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with lung disease such as asthma, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors should limit prolonged exertion outdoors tomorrow.

“Ozone is a highly reactive pollutant that can irritate the lining of your lungs. Children are especially susceptible to ozone because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more for their body size compared to adults. We recommend trying to limit your children’s strenuous outdoor activity tomorrow,” said Melissa Stevens, CAP communications director. “The same is true for adults who like to exercise outside or have jobs that require exertion outdoors during the heat of the day.”

To help lessen the effects of tomorrow’s ozone levels, the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee encourages citizens to incorporate smarter driving habits into their daily routines.

“As I said, ozone is a very reactive pollutant, so individuals can actually help reduce the ozone in the air tomorrow by making a few simple changes,” said Stevens. “We recommend trying your best to reduce your driving tomorrow — take public transit, avoid driving during peak traffic periods if you can, and skip the drive thru at fast food restaurants and banks.”

The Clean Air Partnership is urging citizens to consider taking the following steps on Air Quality Alert days:

• Carpool or take the train or bus at least once a week and on air alert days.

• Combine errands into a single trip, and reduce or postpone trips in your car.

• Reduce idling: Schedule your day to avoid driving during peak traffic times, and skip the drive-thru and go inside.

• Refuel your car after dusk, when it’s cooler and ozone production has tapered off.

• Postpone the use of gas-powered lawn equipment until the air quality improves.

 

About Ozone

Ozone is a gas created from chemicals in the air that react in the presence of heat and sunlight. Ozone pollution is more prevalent in the summer months because the strong light from the sun “cooks” the chemicals emitted by cars, power plants, chemical plants and other sources. Cars and trucks commuting to and from metropolitan areas are a major source of the ozone problem. The emissions from thousands of cars – paired with warm weather – lead to Air Quality Alert days and diminished air quality.

Learn more about what you can do to reduce ozone at www.itscleartome.org.

Study Shows Allergy and Asthma Linked to the Air Students Breathe

By Kirsty Oswald, MedWire Reporter

The original post can be found here.

Poor air quality inside classrooms could play a role in the development of asthma and allergies in children, the results of a French study show.

Researchers found that pupils exposed to high levels of fine particles with aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and acrolein were more likely to have had asthma in the previous year than those exposed to low levels. Furthermore, high classroom levels of formaldehyde were associated with an increased probability for rhinoconjunctivitis.

“The alarming consequence of poor air quality in classrooms was a deterioration of respiratory health,” say Isabella Annesi-Maesano (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France) and colleagues.

The study included 6590 children aged 9‑10 years enrolled at 108 schools across six French cities. The researchers assessed the children using a questionnaire that their parents completed, a skin prick test for 10 common allergens, and a run test for exercise-induced asthma. Concentrations of air pollutants were taken from their classrooms, in most cases during the same week.

The authors, reporting in Thorax, found that nearly a third of schoolchildren were exposed to levels of PM_2.5 and NO₂ at concentrations greater than the upper thresholds proposed by the World Health Organization.

Overall, 6.9% of pupils had had asthma in the previous year, and 11.8% had had rhinoconjunctivitis.

Pupils exposed to high levels of PM_2.5 had a 21% increase in the odds for having asthma in the past year. Similarly, the probability increased by 22% amongst those exposed to high levels of acrolein, compared with low exposures. When just allergicasthma was considered, high NO₂ exposure also significantly increased the probability, by 40% compared with low exposure to NO₂.

High formaldehyde exposure was also associated with an increased probability of rhinoconjunctivitis, where the odds for the allergy were 19% greater than with low levels of exposure.

The authors say that their study helps to fill a gap in data about the effects of indoor air pollution on respiratory health, particularly in children.

“This lack of data is in spite of the fact that there is growing concern about the school environment, where children spend up to eight hours a day,” they say.

They also recommend further research in younger children to elucidate the role of indoor air pollutants in the development of asthma and allergies.