Fire Weather, Smoggy Conditions Trigger Air Alert In Bay Area

BAY AREA, CA — Hot temperatures and vehicle exhaust will create smoggy conditions Tuesday, prompting the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to issue a Spare the Air alert. It is the 16th Spare the Air alert of the year.

A low-pressure system to the south of the Bay Area is combining with a high-pressure system in the Pacific Northwest and creating offshore winds and high temperatures in the region, according to officials. These conditions, in combination with vehicle exhaust, are expected to cause unhealthy levels of smog.

"This latest hot spell should alert us to the continuing need to find alternatives to driving alone," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the district, which is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area. "Tailpipe exhaust is the main source of smog, so taking transit or carpooling to work can make a big difference in our regional air quality."

Spare the Air alerts are issued when smog is forecast to reach unhealthy levels.

Smog can cause throat irritation, congestion, chest pain, trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. Long-term exposure to smog can reduce the functioning of the lungs. Smog is particularly harmful for young children, seniors and people with respiratory and heart conditions.

During Spare the Air days, Bay Area residents are encouraged to carpool, use public transit or work from home. People are also advised to limit outdoor activities.