1. The air looks bad, so what do I do?
Erik Saganić
DOH Enviro Health Workshop
November 2017

2. Many Health Effects from Air Pollution
Reduced lung function
Heart attacks
Strokes
Premature death
Cancer

3. Who is affected? “Sensitive Groups” Expectant mothers Children
People living with heart or lung disease
Undiagnosed older adults
Higher respiratory rate, and still in development

4. Colors to describe air quality
Called the Air Quality Index:
Based on 24-hours of air!
All the health studies are based on 24-hour exposures. No shorter-term health guidance from the literature.
Color
Category
Green
GOOD
Yellow
MODERATE
Orange
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS
Red
UNHEALTHY
Purple
VERY UNHEALTHY
Maroon
HAZARDOUS

5. How we communicate air quality
Forecast:
Because we can’t monitor 23 hours into the future
Current air monitor readings
For transparency and because air quality can change quickly

6. “Activity forecast”
Daily county level forecasts on pscleanair.org

7. “Activity forecast”
Pressing or hovering over icons gives more detail

9. Forecasts are conservative
County level forecasts are protective of the highest air pollution level in the county
Some areas may have good air quality within the same county
So how can you know what to do if you think you may have better air?

10. Look at current air quality levels
Our network map includes:
Colored forecast zones
Current monitor readings
3-day site history

11. Can you monitor at my school?
You probably don’t need it
We know about air quality through monitoring AND modelling
Monitoring provides concentrations at the typically highest pollution areas:
Areas with high woodstove use in valleys
The heavy industry areas
Near-road air monitors
Modelling and satellites help us fill in the rest

12. When is air quality highest?
Typically the winter months
July 4th…
Wildfire smoke events

13. How to stay safe from outdoor air pollution
Check our forecast to know what to do: pscleanair.org
If it says “MODERATE”, but you feel impacted, listen to your body
If needed, stay indoors (with windows closed if air conditioned)
Keep activity level light
Consider improving the HVAC system filtration in the building

14. Other forecasts (confusing, right?)
AIRNOW.gov:
Forecast originates from our agency (we input it)
The “current” monitor values are a 3-hour representation
Newspaper, most websites, etc with feeds:
Links to AIRNOW, which has a forecast originates from our agency
Wunderground:
Now has general public air monitors driving their forecast
I suggest staying away from their forecasts until we learn more (examples already showing poor performance)
WA State Dept of Ecology
Current air quality map:
Have different colors ranges! (more conservative --- they use the “Washington Air Quality Advisory”)

15. Questions? Just a few ideas for thought:
When do I cancel the football game?
When would I send kids home?

16. Thanks for your attention
Erik Saganic