Air Quality Awareness Week 2024
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Air Quality Awareness Week 2024
Every May, the U.S. EPA spearheads Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) educating people about air quality, how it affects their health, and encouraging everyone to incorporate the Air Quality Index (AQI) into their daily lives. This week is significant because it coincides with the start of Wildfire Awareness Month (May 2024) and World Asthma Day (Tuesday, May 7, 2024).
The theme for this year is, “Knowing Your Air" and covers a topic a day:
- Monday, May 6 – Wildland Fires and Smoke
- Tuesday, May 7 – Asthma and Your Health
- Wednesday, May 8 – Air Quality and Climate
- Thursday, May 9 – Air Quality and Environmental Justice
- Friday, May 10 – Air, Animals and Plants
How to Check the Air Quality Forecast
One of the best ways you can Know Your Air is by staying informed about air quality conditions. Here are several resources to keep you Air Aware:
- Use the weather app on your phone. Many popular weather apps for smartphones make it simple to view the air quality conditions when you are checking the weather.
- Check out conditions online. You can view the current and forecasted air quality conditions in your area by visiting the EPA's AirNow website.
- Sign up for air quality alerts. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality provides text and email alerts daily and when there are elevated levels are forecast.
- Tune in to your local weather report on the news. When air quality is forecast to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups, many local television meteorologists will provide an air quality alert during their news broadcast.
National Bike Month
May is National Bike Month which is promoted by the League of American Bicyclists and celebrated in communities from coast to coast. Established in 1956, National Bike Month showcases the many benefits of bicycling and encourages more people to try biking.
The biggest event of the month – Bike To Work Day – will take place on Friday, May 17, and Get There ATX and Ghisallo will be coordinating fueling stations throughout the Austin area. You can find a list of fueling stations here!
Choosing healthy commuting options like bicycling improves air quality by cutting down on emissions from vehicles on the road. Don't have a bike? Check out myCommuteSolutions to find a rentable bicycle nearby!
Air Quality News
131 Million in U.S. Live in Areas with Unhealthy Pollution Levels, Lung Association Finds - Nearly 40% of people in the U.S. are living in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution and the country is backsliding on clean air progress as the effects of climate change intensify, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. (NBC News)
Coal Power Plants Must Reduce Pollution Under New Federal Rules - The rules will require coal-fueled plants, including Texas plants that produced about 12% of power on the state’s grid this year, to reduce carbon emissions and mercury pollution and handle disposed coal ash more safely. (The Texas Tribune)
Worst U.S. Cities for Air Pollution Ranked in New American Lung Association Report - Almost four out of every 10 people in the United States live in a place where air pollution is considered bad enough to put their health at risk, the American Lung Association warned in its latest "State of the Air" report released on Wednesday. (CBS News)
Study Shows Link Between Air Pollution, Stress, and Heart Health Risk - A study in more than 3,000 US counties, with 315 million residents, has suggested that air pollution is linked with stress and depression, putting under-65-year-olds at increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. (News-Medical)
2024 Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown MSA Monthly Air Quality Index Levels
In April 2024, we experienced 7 good days and 23 moderate days. 8 moderate days were due to ozone, 14 moderate days were due to PM2.5, and one moderate day was due to ozone and PM2.5. Air quality trends in April 2024 were worse compared to those of April 2023, which had 11 good days and 19 moderate days.
Access the Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast by using any weather app or by going to AirNow.gov for localized information.
To learn how these pollutants can affect public health, click the following links:
View the current Air Quality Index (AQI) and learn more at AirNow.gov.
Share the Air Central Texas newsletter with your friends, family, and coworkers to help people understand the risk of poor air quality and how their actions can affect our breathable air.
Make an air quality commitment to improve our local air quality, today!
