Pollution

Ozone alerts are issued in regions where smog levels are considered to be dangerous to breathe, but new research shows that warnings have been issued needlessly in Ohio several times already this year.

Since January 2010, 15 ozone alerts have been issued for central Ohio, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Out of these warnings, 12 of them were false alarms. Although it seems better to be safe than sorry, inaccuracy spans across the board.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has failed to issue ozone alerts on 12 days when the air pollution levels were hazardous. In 2009, the commission only had a 25 percent success rate when it came to establishing alerts.

Individuals who want to breathe easier on a regular basis may want to consider purchasing an air purifier. A HEPA filter can remove particles that can irritate the lungs and cause complications for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus has a HyperHEPA filter that is designed to eliminate ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size. This is ideal for individuals who suffer from allergies and want to remove irritants from up to 900 square feet of space.

With summer comes sweltering heat, and this warm weather is notorious for trapping pollution at ground-level. Recently, an ozone alert was issued on June 20 for York, Chester and Lancaster counties in South Carolina. This comes after a heat wave entered the region, resulting in temperatures close to 100 degrees, according to the Herald Online.

"When ozone levels are elevated, active children and adults as well as people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion," Myra Reece, chief of the Department of Health and Environmental Control bureau of air quality, told the news source.

During ozone alerts, the level of air pollution is considered hazardous to breathe, especially for children and elderly adults. Individuals are encouraged to postpone outdoor activities until the warning is lifted.

Air purifiers that include a HEPA filter can make it easier for individuals to breathe at home. They can be especially helpful for those suffering from respiratory conditions.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus can remove irritating particles from up to 900 square feet with its HyperHEPA filter. The device eliminates everything from dust to pollen in living spaces.

Arizona has some of the toughest car emissions legislation currently in place, but this may soon change if legislators choose to reduce existing laws to national standards. Recently, lawmakers discussed lowering carbon emissions regulations originally set by governor Janet Napolitano through the Clean Car Program, according to the East Valley Tribune.

The Clean Car Program was created because Arizona has poor air quality compared to other regions of the country. The American Lung Association gave several Arizona counties an F ranking in its State of the Air report.

"This program helps to ensure cleaner vehicles, which means less air pollution," Diane Brown, executive director of Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, told the news source. "It also reduces asthma attacks and other adverse health problems."

But if some legislators get their way, those standards could soon be relaxed - increasing pollution in many areas of the state. Individuals who live in a polluted area may want to consider purchasing an air purifier to remove smog from living spaces through a HEPA filter.


The IQAir HealthPro Plus can also be beneficial to those who want to breathe easier. Its HyperHEPA filter can remove ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size from up to 900 square feet of space.

Fires are not only damaging on ground level, but in the atmosphere as well. Recently, a slew of wildfires has created hazardous air pollution in many regions of the country. Florida is not exempt from the blazes, which prompted environmental officials to issue an ozone alert in Hillsborough County, according to WTSP-TV.

According to the administrators who announced the alert, wildfires made the air unsafe to breathe on June 16 and 17. Individuals with respiratory ailments were advised to stay indoors, along with elderly adults and young children.

When an ozone alert is in effect, individuals are encouraged to postpone their outdoor activities until the warning is lifted. Commuters are also advised to carpool or use public transportation to reduce carbon emissions.

Individuals who want to remove the pollution from their living spaces may want to use an air purifier. A HEPA filter can eliminate irritating particles from the air and make it easier to breathe.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus is an excellent option for those who want to remove air pollution. Its HyperHEPA filter can clear up to 900 square feet of space and eliminate ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size.

California has state laws in place that require the region to lower greenhouse gases to 1990 levels within the next nine years, but lawmakers fear that this will not happen without a more forceful effort. In an attempt to reduce carbon emissions sooner than later, legislators are turning to a primary cause of air pollution: cars.

Air Resources board chair, Mary Nichols, says that automobiles create 40 percent of the pollution in California, according to Reuters. Reducing the number of cars on the road can help the state reach its goal of lowering carbon emissions by 2020.

"Most important for Californians, from an air quality perspective, is still the cars," Nichols told the news source. "After all these years, it's still the cars."

Individuals who want to breathe easier in their own homes can purchase an air purifier to find relief from the pollution. HEPA filters can remove irritants from the atmosphere such as dust, cigarette smoke and pollen.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus has a HyperHEPA filter that can eliminate ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size. It can be especially helpful for individuals living with allergies, asthma or working in urban areas with high concentrations of pollution.

As warm weather sweeps across the nation's heartland, more cities in the region are issuing ozone alerts to keep residents safe. The Tulsa metropolitan area is the latest city to send out a warning for June 15 as a result of high levels of smog, according to ABC affiliate KTUL-TV.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality announced the ozone alert in fear of high winds and warm weather carrying the air pollution across the region. Officials recommended that commuters opt for public transportation or carpooling to reduce carbon emissions.

During ozone alerts, people are also recommended to postpone outdoor activities until later in the day. The air pollution is especially dangerous to children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory conditions.

Air purifiers can clear the atmosphere in homes with HEPA filters that are designed to remove pollution from living spaces.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus can eliminate ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size with its HyperHEPA filter. The product is also designed to cover up to 900 square feet of space, making it easier for homeowners to breathe. 

Wildfires in Arizona have recently burned more than 600 square miles with no signs of stopping, and new screen shots released from NASA now show that the smoke can be seen from outer space. This has caused concern for health experts, who say that the wildfires may be creating a dangerous amount of air pollution, according to the International Business Times.

The plumes have resulted in large levels of nitrogen dioxide, which can be hazardous when inhaled over time. The wildfire, which has been titled the Wallow Wildfire, is approaching the current record of 732 square miles burnt in 2002 by the Rodeo-Chediski Fire. Thus far, firefighters have only been able to control approximately 5 percent of the blaze.

Individuals in the area who suffer from respiratory conditions or just want cleaner air to breathe may want to purchase an air purifier. A HEPA filter can remove pollution from the atmosphere that can cause irritation in the lungs.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus has a HyperHEPA filter designed to eliminate ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size. It can clear up to 900 square feet of space and make it easier for people with respiratory ailments to breathe.

Many parts of the country are already feeling summer weather roll in, and as a result, air pollution has become a growing concern due to the heat. Michigan is the latest region to take action against the smog that is making it difficult for residents to breathe.

On June 7, legislators issued the first Clean Air Action Day for the Lakeshore area as smog threatened to cause health complications for individuals in the region, according to WHTC-1450. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources says that the combination of heat and automobile exhaust is to blame for the high levels of pollution.

During the ozone alert, the Macatawa Area Express offered free rides on some of its bus routes to cut down on exhaust. Utilizing public transportation and carpooling are easy ways to reduce air pollution.

Individuals who want to breathe easier can purchase an air purifier for their homes. HEPA filters are designed to remove irritating particles from the air.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus contains a HyperHEPA filter that can trap ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size. The device can remove everything from dust to cigarette smoke from up to 900 square feet of space.

Ozone alerts are not uncommon during the summer when the sweltering heat traps smog at ground-level, but factors other than pollution can cause the need for an alert as well.

Recently, smoke burning from wildfires that have broken out across Colorado prompted some towns to issue ozone alerts, according to NewsFirst5. The Denver-Boulder area is included on the list of counties that have been given a warning due to the high levels of smoke.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council determined that an alert was necessary until 4 p.m. on June 8 due to the wildfires, according to the Times Call. Individuals with respiratory diseases were advised to be especially alert due to the heightened risk of health complications.

Those who live in high-polluted areas, such as cities, can use an air purifier to remove irritating particles from their homes. A HEPA filter can trap cigarette smoke, pollen and mold spores.

The IQAir HealthPro Plus can be especially helpful for people with allergies or respiratory illnesses. Its HyperHEPA filter can eliminate ultrafine particles smaller than 0.3 microns in size. The IQAir HealthPro Plus is designed to purify the air in up to 900 square feet of space.

When air pollution surpasses standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency, legislators are typically prompted to issue ozone alerts. This was the case across a number of counties in Ohio recently when smog became a health hazard, according to the Newark Advocate.

Licking, Delaware, Franklin, Knox, Fairfield and Madison County were all placed under ozone alerts by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. Strong winds and temperatures reaching approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit were partially to blame for the alert. The wind is expected to shift the smog across the region.

Individuals with respiratory illnesses, children and the elderly are susceptible to health complications during an ozone alert. Staying indoors while the warning is in effect can help reduce the chances of suffering from pollution-related ailments.

People in the affected region are encouraged to reduce their carbon emissions by carpooling and utilizing public transportation when possible.

Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters are effective in removing irritating particles from living spaces. The IQAir HealthPro Plus is designed to trap ultrafine particles from homes, ranging from pollen to cigarette smoke. Its HyperHEPA filter can clear up to 900 square feet of space and make it easier to breathe.