April 28- May 2 marks week for air awareness as smog season 2008 begins ...

Recognizing the detrimental effect smog has on citizens and the state’s economy, Governor Sonny Perdue has proclaimed the week of April 28 through May 2, 2008 as Air Quality Awareness Week in Georgia.

Creating greater awareness around air quality and the damaging effects of smog – and taking measures to reduce it – is critical this time of year because warmer months in Georgia can drastically diminish air quality. During smog season, which runs May 1 through September 30, rising temperatures, stagnant wind and high humidity can concentrate air pollution to unhealthy levels, prompting respiratory distress, discomfort and Smog Alerts.

The governor’s proclamation follows a recent announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency has imposed stricter ozone limits affecting air quality which could trigger even more Smog Alerts in our region.

“The negative health effects and the bottom line impact of poor air quality are compelling,” says Kevin Green, executive director of The Clean Air Campaign. “The science continues to show serious health effects at lower levels of pollution. Air Quality Awareness Week presents an opportunity for all Georgians to educate themselves on air quality and learn simple actions they can take to reduce emissions.”

In the past decade, the number of counties failing to meet federal air quality standards rose from 13 to 28 due in part to more stringent air quality standards and Georgia’s booming growth. About half of these pollutants come from cars and trucks.

“Every person in the state has a stake in improving air quality and the first step is to make residents aware of how day-to-day activities contribute to our problem,” says Green. “For example, each mile driven adds one pound of pollution into the air. Using an alternate method of commuting like carpooling, riding transit or teleworking reduces potential harmful pollutants. The fact is that changing individual habits can have a significant impact.”

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is responsible for measuring air pollutant levels throughout the state. When levels are expected to exceed federal air quality limits in the metro Atlanta region, EPD issues a Smog Alert, and The Clean Air Campaign provides a public health service through emailed notifications. Forecasts are also posted at CleanAirCampaign.com daily. Air quality is reported using the Air Quality Index, a color-coded scale that provides easy-to-understand information, including any cautionary health information. Pollution levels are reported as Good (green), Moderate (yellow), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange), Unhealthy (red) or Very Unhealthy (purple). Smog Alerts are issued when the air is projected to reach Code Orange, Red or Purple levels.

Twenty-eight Georgia counties or partial counties that are in “nonattainment,” or fail to meet federal air quality standards for ground-level ozone and/or particle pollution include Barrow; Bartow; Bibb; Carroll; Catoosa; Cherokee; Clayton; Cobb; Coweta; DeKalb; Douglas; Fayette; Floyd; Forsyth; Fulton; Gwinnett; Hall; Heard; Henry; Monroe; Murray; Newton; Paulding; Putnam; Rockdale; Spalding; Walker and Walton. To sign up for Smog Alerts or find out about Commuter Rewards, visit CleanAirCampaign.com.

About The Clean Air Campaign

The Clean Air Campaign is a not-for-profit organization that works with Georgia employers, commuters and schools to encourage actions that result in less traffic congestion and better air quality. To accomplish this goal, The Clean Air Campaign works with more than 500 employers to custom design and implement commute options programs; helps thousands of commuters annually find commute options that work for them, with targeted incentives to get them started; protects public health by issuing Smog Alert notices; and works with elementary and middle schools to empower children, parents and teachers to play a positive role in reducing traffic and cleaning the air. Each day, these efforts help reduce traffic in the region by more than one million vehicle miles and keep some 500 tons of pollution out of the air we breathe. For more information, call 1-877-CLEANAIR (1-877-253-2624) or visit CleanAirCampaign.com.