Blistering heat is making life miserable for a lot of Coloradans this summer. People should heed the advice of experts to keep themselves safe and the quality of our air breathable.
As temperatures have soared above 100 degrees, pollution levels have skyrocketed, and experts say persistent heat will keep ozone levels in potentially dangerous territory. People with respiratory ailments like asthma and emphysema need to take extra precautions. Staying indoors, drinking plenty of water and not exerting oneself are key. (Settle down with a good book, the rare activity that burns no carbon-based fuels.)
Ozone monitors along the Front Range in recent days have recorded pollution levels above the federal health limit of 80 parts per billion. (Rocky Flats North registered the highest in Denver at 94 ppb). Levels that high can aggravate respiratory conditions and make it more difficult for anyone to breathe, including elderly folks and healthy outdoor enthusiasts. Chest tightness, coughing and eye and throat irritation can result from high ozone levels.
Christopher Dann, spokesman for Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division, said emissions worsen during the day, so for runners and others who like to be active, it’s best to wait until after sundown.
“The health message is one we want to get out,” said Dann. “The last few days have not been too healthy.”
Reducing ozone is also important. If you need a good excuse not to mow the lawn, you have one. Officials advise to reduce, delay or postpone running gas-powered machines like lawn mowers. Fuel cars after sundown and don’t overfill. Dann said that by refueling in the morning as temperatures are heating up, the evaporative emissions that escape into the air will have all day to bake into ground-level ozone. Dann said that the solar impact of ozone creation eases as the sun goes down and the night cools.
This weekend’s coast-to-coast heat wave prompted the National Weather Service to issue heat warnings for several major cities. In Colorado, it caused power outages that affected 12,000 households in the metro area. Xcel’s Diana Yee said the outages were caused by equipment failure and asked that customers raise their thermostat settings “a couple degrees.” That would reduce the strain on the system but keep indoor conditions comfortable. During the day, keep doors closed, curtains drawn, don’t use conventional ovens and hold off running dishwashers until nighttime. Yee also suggested that all of us check on neighbors and relatives who don’t have air conditioning.
Small steps can help Coloradans stay safe and keep our environment clean.
