Ground-Level Ozone
Ozone pollution is more than a dirty-looking cloud on the horizon. It forms when emissions from vehicles, lawn mowers, power plants and industry react with heat and sunlight. Ozone pollution is harmful for everyone, especially to people with respiratory problems such as asthma.
Children are also at high risk when the ozone level reaches “Alert” status. Ground-level ozone makes it difficult for your lungs to absorb oxygen, making you cough.
Contributing Factors for Ozone
Dangerous air is not created solely by industry. Although it’s true that coal-burning industrial plants and chemical plants contribute to the problem, more than half of all ozone pollution is caused by everyday people doing everyday things.
What time of day you fill your car, how often you drive your car for errands, and when you mow your lawn all impact air quality.
A network of eight monitors carefully distributed throughout the Greater Kansas City region is used to observe how ozone levels change across the metropolitan area due to contributions from various sources.
How Can I Protect My Children?
Warm sunny days, school vacation and eager kids — summer means playing outside from dawn to dusk. But what about the air they breathe? Physically, children are more vulnerable to air pollution than adults because their respiratory defenses are not fully developed. Be aware of hot sunny days because ozone air pollution can make your children sick. Here are some other tips that will help you keep your kids healthy:
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When the SkyCast shows elevated air pollution levels, limit the time your child spends outdoors and keep them in an area with a good air filtration system, such as a local library. Plan strenuous activities for early morning before ozone levels become dangerous. Keep outdoor activities far away from busy streets.
Keep an eye on your child’s health. Children with asthma are especially sensitive to air pollution. Look for warning signs of undiagnosed asthma, such as chronic coughing and shortness of breath and tell your pediatrician.
If your child suffers from asthma, learn to recognize what triggers his or her attacks and avoid those substances.
Inform caregivers. Make sure your child’s coaches and camp directors know the health risks of air pollution and take measures to protect kids when air quality is unhealthy. If your child has asthma, it is important that caregivers know he or she is especially vulnerable on high ozone days.
Model and encourage your child to participate in activities that reduce air pollution. Walking, biking or riding public transit help reduce regional air pollution, and therefore, contribute to lessening the effect that pollution has on your child’s health. Walking and biking also encourage healthy physical activity habits for years to come.