Why Does Everyone Need to Spare The Air?
Common misconceptions about the Sacramento region’s Spare The Air season

The 2008 Spare The Air season is well underway and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District would like residents to understand the importance of improving air quality in the Sacramento region. Many residents comply with the AQMD’s requests to “Spare The Air,” but don’t necessarily understand the reasoning behind the program. The AQMD would like to clarify some common misconceptions about the Spare The Air program so residents can better understand why it’s important for everyone to do their part to help improve air quality.

Misconception #1: “Why does the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District ask us to Spare The Air in our homes and personal lives instead of regulating large vehicles, diesel trucks, etc.?”

The Sacramento Metropolitan AQMD works to reduce pollution through its heavy-duty vehicle incentive programs to reduce NOx (oxides of nitrogen) emissions from mobile sources. NOx is a primary ingredient in the formation of ground-level ozone when it is cooked in the hot summer sun. High ozone is the reason our region has Spare The Air days, so it’s critical to reduce NOx in order to reduce ozone. In 2007, the District funded almost $21 million in incentive projects and reduced an estimated 360 tons of NOx from heavy-duty diesel trucks.

Unfortunately, local air districts cannot regulate mobile sources like diesel trucks, locomotives, construction or agricultural equipment. That authority rests with state and federal government. Incentive programs are key to improving air quality in our region, but so are you.

The District asks residents to do their part to improve local air quality because our region has a long way to go to meet federal standards. While regulating mobile sources will help improve air quality, the AQMD knows everyone can make a difference by making small behavior changes around the home, workplace and school, so our region’s air quality continues to improve.

Misconception #2: “I don’t care about sparing the air because a little bit of pollution won’t hurt me. Why should I inconvenience myself?”

There is no such thing as “good pollution.” Exposure to bad air at lower levels for extended periods of time can cause negative health impacts such as an aggravated respiratory system, increased asthma symptoms, coughing, watery eyes and sneezing. It’s important to reduce your exposure on a Spare The Air day. You can easily do your part by reducing your car trips and being selective about what kinds of products you use around your home. It’s simple to Spare The Air and it will likely help protect your health, in both the short and long term.

Misconception #3: “Air pollution only matters to people who have respiratory issues, so they should be the ones concerned with air quality, not me.”

Poor air quality affects everyone, and each person’s behavior affects another person’s ability to breathe clean air. Respiratory issues and other health effects can surface in an individual at any time, so it’s wise to do your part to ensure you maintain your health. Be a good neighbor and show courtesy to other residents by implementing clean air habits. If you had asthma or a respiratory illness, you’d want your neighbors to do the same for you. The only way to improve air quality and Spare The Air is to work together!

Misconception #4: “Our air quality is getting worse.”

Actually, the amount of ground-level ozone pollution in the Sacramento region has been on a steady decline for the past several years, but with more media attention given to the condition of our air quality, it can seem like things are getting worse. Plus, the Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) recently lowered the health standard for ozone pollution because studies confirmed that lower levels of ozone pollution are more harmful to our health than previously thought.

Even though we’ve made improvements to the air we breathe, it’s still critical that we continue to lower ozone pollution to protect public health.

The air doesn’t clean itself. Achieving clean air and maintaining it requires everyone to make an effort. We are on track to eventually meet state and federal clean air standards, but we have to maintain those standards, too—which means we must keep up those clean air habits each and every day for the benefit of future generations.

Misconception #5: “People only have to change their behavior on Spare The Air days.”

Not true! Any pollution going into the air has the potential to cause a Spare The Air day during the summer. While it’s important to change your behavior on a Spare The Air day (for example, drive as little as possible on that day), the only way to prevent Spare The Air days is to be conscious of your behavior all season long.

For more information about how you can Spare The Air, and to sign up for Air Alert, a free daily air quality forecast e-mail, please visit SpareTheAir.com.