Unhealthy Air in Phoenix

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Air Quality / No Burn Day
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What a No Burn Day looks like in Phoenix:

Phoenix residents have got to realize the unhealthy air they create ignoring the No Burn Days affects their children and parents. Not being able to breathe is not pleasant. Cancer is even worse.

Do Not Burn today as well.


Source: AirNow

Second Hand Smoke Can Ruin Air Quality for the New Year

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz

Air Quality / Weather
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Welcome to Winter 2015. A New Year's Eve storm will usher in cold, cold. cold, with a slight chance of rain for the Valley and other lower deserts.

The real concern is everyone polluting the air as the breathable air column descends and gets caught under the inversion layer. That means what goes up, fireplace smoke and fireworks, will be breathed in. Talk about second hand smoke!

So give the gift of breathing, do not use your fireplaces on New Year's Eve or Day. There is going to be enough smog in the Valley as it is. And, you could brighten someone's New Year by not sending them to the ER.

Here's the rest of the forecast:

Forecast Discussion: All eyes are on the approaching storm system to affect our region over the New Year's holiday. Latest weather model runs are in and the consensus is a colder and drier event; for the lower deserts. The moisture tap into our area peaks during Wednesday morning and afternoon. This is when cloud cover increases and the Phoenix Metro has the best shot at observing rain, particularly the higher terrain east and north. Ultimately, less rainfall and precipitation ending for the lower elevations around sunset New Year’s Eve will have consequences for air quality. This is a particularly cold storm that will lead to well below normal temperatures for much of the area, especially when winds turn light and cloud cover begins to break during the evening and overnight. Under these conditions, fireplace activity and fireworks can quickly contribute enough to PM-2.5 to warrant concerns for air quality. For instance, on New Year’s Eve 2012, similar weather conditions occurred when mostly clear skies, light winds, and cool temperatures developed during the evening. Despite relatively low PM-2.5 observations for much of the day, average hourly PM-2.5 concentrations leading into midnight surpassed 100 µg/m3 for some sites; pushing daily AQI values into the upper Moderate category for that day. Therefore, a PM-2.5 Health Watch has been issued for Wednesday, December 31st, 2014. Additionally, elevated PM-2.5 concentrations would carry over into New Year’s day. Subfreezing morning lows on Thursday will be slow to warm to near 50°F by afternoon. Light winds and long-lasting inversions are likely during this time. This means a PM-2.5 High Pollution Advisory is likely for New Year’s Day.

Source: AirNow

What Happens to Air Quality When the NO BURN Days are Ignored*** Updated

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz
Air Quality  / Weather 
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Without wind and with the cold inversion layer, the Valley of the Sun's air becomes unhealthy, even hazardous to breathe.

There is really no excuse for this type of terrible air quality. 

Please do not burn your fireplaces and let the rest of us breathe.

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Update: the Air Quality worsens as the night progresses

Air Quality Hazards Not a Myth

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Health / Community Interest

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New Year's did not disappoint this year. 2014 began with air quality in the Unhealthy Range. 

At 6am, the Valley's stagnant air coupled with fireworks and fireplace activity resulted in a 181*, the unhealthy range of air quality. The Pheonix metropolitan area and surrounding cities lie in a valley between mountain ranges. With light wind regimens and winter inversions, the air quality suffers. 

People with respiratory conditions suffer the most from the dirty air so low in elevation. 

So when someone says the air quality, smog concerns, or fireplace and firework restrictions do not apply to them because they have the right to do whatever they want, show them the reality of their choice. 

Unhealthy, polluted air affects everyone's health.  In the article, Air Pollution Causes Cancer, WHO Agency Say, it states:

The International Agency for Research on Cancer declared on Thursday that air pollution is a carcinogen, alongside known dangers such as asbestos, tobacco and ultraviolet radiation. The decision came after a consultation by an expert panel organized by IARC, the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, which is based in Lyon, France.

"We consider this to be the most important environmental carcinogen, more so than passive smoking," said Kurt Straif, head of the IARC department that evaluates cancer-causing substances.

Although we know that government agencies and scientific data can be manipulated to serve whatever ends some global warming or climate change scammer wants, unhealthy air affects everyone in a negative way like it or not.

AirNow states: 

Tuesday's PM-2.5 HPA has been EXTENDED through Wednesday, January 1, 2014... Little change is expected in the weather pattern the next several days. Phoenix will see daytime highs in the upper 60s to low 70s through the weekend under sunny skies and relatively light winds. Stagnant conditions will keep the abundant smoke from fireplaces and New Year's fireworks near the surface through Wednesday morning. This will send PM-2.5 concentrations into the Unhealthy range. At these levels, everyone is affected, not just children, elderly, and people with existing respiratory issues. Statistics show an increase in emergency room visits due to respiratory distress during Christmas Eve/Day and New Year's Eve/Day. Thus, we are extending Tuesday's High Pollution Advisory through Wednesday. This carries automatic Maricopa County-issued wood-burning restrictions. Check back tomorrow for more. Until then, have a Happy New Year! -J.Paul

So as I suck on my oxygen this morning and take fists full of supplements in order to breathe in this thick air, please remember some ideas of pollution control like restricting unnecessary fireplace usage a few nights a year can save lives and health.

That is not too much to ask, now is it?

A selected part of the chart from Air Now, below, defines the Unhealthy range of Air Quality:

Air Quality Index Levels of Health Concern	Numerical Value	Meaning
*Unhealthy	151 to 200	Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

  Source: Air Now, Huffington Post,

Fireplace and Woodburning Harms Valley Residents' Health

Staff Writer, DL Mullan

Community Interest / Medicine

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People with respiratory issues have a hard time breathing this time of the year. Not because of the cooler temperatures, but because of the burning activities of Valley residents. 

Imagine if you had asthma, emphysema, or worse, then looked at the smog lacing the metro area's sky. It's not fun to be unable to breathe. It's even worse when someone has to visit the hospital for an emergency intervention.

Here is a snippet from Phoenix's AirNow:

We are closing on some worst days for pollution historically. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day see some of the worst pollution that is entirely preventable here in the Valley. Festive fireplace and fire pit activity on these nights and days leave a blanket of smoke over the Phoenix metropolitan area that gets trapped by inversions. Unfortunately, these levels of pollution are so extreme that Health Watches and High Pollution Advisories are issued, triggering No Burn restrictions from Maricopa County. We can reverse this trend, but we need your help.

For more, visit: http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/Holiday%20Burning.pdf. Check back tomorrow for more. Until then, have a good day! -J.Paul

Give more than material gifts this holiday season. Give the gift of breathing. Limit your festive burning activities and let others enjoy the holidays as well.

Source: Airnow Phoenix