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Social Media: Air Quality

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Social Media: Air Quality
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Please help the National Weather Service spread these important safety messages on social media! Everyone is welcome to use the text and images provided below to help the NWS build a Weather-Ready Nation.

Air Quality and Health

Facebook
Poor air quality can be hazardous to anyone. Before spending time outdoors, check the air quality forecast to ensure that you aren’t doing yourself more harm than good.
airnow.gov

Twitter
Poor air quality can be hazardous to anyone. Before spending time outdoors, check the air quality forecast to ensure that you aren’t doing yourself more harm than good.
airnow.gov

Air Quality and Health: Exposure to air pollutants such as particulate matter and ground-level ozone can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat and increased coughing. Poor air quality can be hazardous to anyone, and it can aggravate health problems such as asmtha, heart disease, and lung disease. Seniors, children and those with compromised immune systems are especially at risk.

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The Air Quality Index

Facebook
Air quality is reported using the Air Quality Index (AQI). Do you know what these numbers and their corresponding levels mean? View the chart below to find out. To see the current air quality in your area, visit airnow.gov

Twitter
Air quality is reported using the Air Quality Index (AQI). Do you know what these numbers and their corresponding levels mean? View the chart below to find out. To see the current air quality in your area, visit airnow.gov

Understanding the Air Quality Index (AQI). Good is AQI 0-50, no health impacts expected. Moderate is AQI 51-100, very sensitive people may wish to limit outdoor exertion. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups is AQI 101-150, sensitive people should limit outdoor exertion. Unhealthy is AQI 151-200, everyone should limit exertion outdoors. Very Unhealthy is AQI 201-300, sensitive people should avoid all outdoor activity. Hazardous is AQI 301-500, everyone should avoid all outdoor activity.

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Air Quality Alerts

Facebook
Do you know what to do if an Air Quality Alert is issued? Stay inside, stay informed, minimize your use of vehicles and other gas-powered machines, and do not burn waste or other items. Visit weather.gov/safety/airquality to stay Weather-Ready.

Twitter
Do you know what to do if an Air Quality Alert is issued? Stay inside, stay informed, minimize your use of vehicles and other gas-powered machines, and do not burn waste or other items. Visit weather.gov/safety/airquality to stay #WeatherReady. #WeatherReady

Air Quality Alerts: Stay informed by following the EPA, NWS or the media. Try to limit the amount of time you are outside. Minimize your use of gas powered equipment and vehicles. Do not burn debris or other items.

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Air Pollution Science

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What is air pollution? The two primary culprits are: 1) Airborne particles such as smoke, dust, dirt, and soot, also called particulate matter. 2) Ground level ozone, which is formed when nitrogen oxides emissions react with other volatile organic compounds in the presence of heat and sunlight. To learn air quality safety tips, visit weather.gov/safety/airquality

Twitter
What is air pollution? The two primary culprits are particulate matter and ground level ozone. Check out the graphic below, and visit weather.gov/safety/airquality to stay #WeatherReady

Air Pollution Science - Particulate Matter: Airborne particles such as smoke, dust, dirt, soot, and salt. The sources of these particles are numerous - including vehicles, factories, fires, and any other natural or human activity resulting in the addition of particulates into the air. Ground Level Ozone: Ground level ozone is not directly emitted into the air, but forms when nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions react with other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of heat and sunlight. Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhause, and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx and VOCs

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Air Quality Damages

Facebook
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 125 million people in the U.S. are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. Stay Weather-Ready by learning about air quality and how it can affect your health: weather.gov/airquality

Twitter
@EPA estimates air pollution affects at least 125 million people in the U.S. Stay #WeatherReady: weather.gov/airquality

Poor air quality can be dangerous. According to the EPA, poor air quality causes 60,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

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Common Pollutants

Facebook
Two of the most common pollutants in the U.S. are ozone and particulate matter. People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, and active people are at greater risk from these pollutants. When the forecast for pollutants is high, plan activities indoors to limit exposure. airnow.gov

Twitter
Two of the most common pollutants in the US are ozone and particulate matter. People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, and active people are at greater risk. airnow.gov #WeatherReady

Poor air quality can be hazardous. Two of the most common pollutants in the US are ozone and particles. Children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease have a greater risk.

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Air Quality Safety Page

Facebook
Air quality is important to your health! Visit the Air Quality Safety Page for air quality facts, forecasts and alerts, information on what to do before and during an air quality alert, and a guide to the air quality index. weather.gov/safety/airquality

Twitter
Air quality is important to your health! Visit the Air Quality Safety Page: weather.gov/safety/airquality #WeatherReady

Pictured: The Air Quality Safety Page

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Air Quality Forecast guidance

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The NOAA National Weather Service’s (NWS) website (weather.gov) not only provides weather forecasts, but also hourly Air Quality forecast guidance for ozone, smoke, and dust in the form of interactive national maps. NWS, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), issues hourly air quality forecast guidance twice daily as part of a national Air Quality Forecasting Capability. Visit airquality.weather.gov/ and digital.mdl.nws.noaa.gov/airquality/ to see your local forecast and stay Weather-Ready.

Twitter
Get hourly Air Quality forecasts guidance for ozone, smoke, and dust. Visit airquality.weather.gov/ and digital.mdl.nws.noaa.gov/airquality/ to see your local forecast stay #WeatherReady

Pictured: An example Air Quality forecast

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