Millions Told Not To Grill, Barbecue – Newsweek

Air Quality Alert in California and Colorado: Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals

Overview

Millions of residents in California have been advised to avoid grilling and other pollution-generating activities on Wednesday due to elevated air pollution levels. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued an air quality alert for harmful ozone pollution affecting major urban centers including Los Angeles, Burbank, and Pasadena. Similarly, an Ozone Action Day alert was declared in Colorado, covering Denver and surrounding counties.

Connection to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This situation directly relates to several SDGs, particularly:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Protecting vulnerable populations from respiratory illnesses caused by air pollution.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Managing urban air quality to ensure safe living environments.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action – Addressing pollution that contributes to atmospheric changes and climate impacts.

Health Implications and Vulnerable Groups

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that ozone exposure can irritate the respiratory tract, cause airway inflammation, and worsen conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Vulnerable populations, including older adults, children, and individuals with lung diseases, face increased health risks.

Air Quality Management and Public Guidance

California AQMD Advisory

The AQMD, responsible for air pollution control in Orange County and urban areas of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, issued an ozone advisory covering most of its jurisdiction. The advisory includes recommendations to minimize pollution and protect public health:

• Avoid grilling, use of fireplaces, candles, and incense.
• Keep windows and doors closed; operate air conditioners or air purifiers.
• Avoid whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air if alternatives exist.
• Limit gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment use until evening hours.
• Delay trips to gas stations and use of household chemicals until evening.

Ozone concentrations are expected to be lower in coastal regions.

Colorado Ozone Action Day

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an ozone alert for the Front Range Urban Corridor, including Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, and Weld counties. The alert highlights:

• Hot and dry weather conditions increasing ozone levels, unhealthy for sensitive groups.
• Requests to reduce ozone pollution by limiting driving of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles until at least 4 p.m.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Scale

The AQI provides a standardized measure of air pollution severity, ranging from 0 to 301 and above:

• 0–50: Good – Air quality is satisfactory.
• 51–100: Moderate – Acceptable air quality with potential concerns for sensitive individuals.
• 101–150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups – May affect people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant individuals.
• 151–200: Unhealthy – Health effects possible for everyone; sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
• 201–300: Very Unhealthy – Increased risk of health effects for all.
• 301 and above: Hazardous – Health warnings of emergency conditions; everyone likely affected.

Expert Insights and Official Communications

AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham explained that ozone is a secondary pollutant formed through chemical reactions requiring sunlight and high temperatures, making warmer months prone to unhealthy ozone levels. Stagnant air conditions exacerbate pollution buildup.

The AQMD communicated via social media about the ongoing ozone advisory, emphasizing elevated smog levels due to persistent high temperatures.

Next Steps and Monitoring

• The California air quality alert remains effective until 8 p.m. local time on Thursday.
• The Colorado ozone warning is in force until 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
• Regular updates are provided by the National Weather Service (NWS) on their official website.

Conclusion: Advancing SDGs through Air Quality Management

Effective air quality alerts and public guidance contribute to achieving SDG 3 by safeguarding health, SDG 11 by promoting sustainable urban environments, and SDG 13 by mitigating pollution-related climate impacts. Continued monitoring and community cooperation are essential to reduce ozone pollution and protect vulnerable populations.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article discusses health risks associated with ozone pollution, including respiratory irritation and aggravation of conditions like asthma and chronic bronchitis, affecting vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article focuses on air quality management in urban areas such as Los Angeles and Denver, highlighting efforts to reduce pollution and protect urban populations.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The formation of ozone pollution is linked to higher temperatures and sunlight, which are influenced by climate change. The article mentions the role of weather conditions in ozone levels and the need to mitigate pollution sources.
4. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Recommendations to limit the use of gasoline-powered equipment and reduce emissions imply a connection to cleaner energy use and reducing fossil fuel dependency.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including air quality improvement and waste management.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
4. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, which includes reducing emissions from fossil fuel use.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Air Quality Index (AQI)
   • The article explicitly mentions the AQI scale (0-301+), which measures air pollution levels and categorizes health risks. This is a key indicator for air quality improvement under SDG 11.6 and SDG 3.9.
2. Ozone Concentration Levels
   • The article discusses ozone pollution levels and alerts issued based on ozone concentrations, which can serve as an indicator of air pollution severity and effectiveness of pollution control measures.
3. Health Impact Data
   • Although not explicitly stated, the mention of respiratory illnesses and vulnerable populations implies monitoring health outcomes related to air pollution as an indicator for SDG 3.9.
4. Emission Reduction Measures
   • The recommendations to limit gasoline-powered equipment and reduce emissions imply tracking reductions in fossil fuel emissions as an indicator for SDG 7.3 and SDG 13.2.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: newsweek.com