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The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) Clean Air Program is working with national agencies on: air quality awareness week (May 1-5) Share information and encourage everyone to take daily action to protect the air we love and breathe.
PDEQ also #ThisIsCleanAir Challenge Throughout May, we invite the public to take a quiz that will test their knowledge of air quality and how they have habits to protect the air we breathe. Quiz participants have a chance to win prizes such as Hydroflask bottles, Camelbak tumblers, bike panniers, bike accessories and maintenance kits, Tucson Attraction Book of Fun, Loop jerseys and more.
Each day of Air Quality Awareness Week focuses on a different air topic. Below are resources to learn more about each.
Monday: Wildfires and Smoke
use AirNow Fire and Smoke Maps See what fires are happening locally and across the United States. PDEQ Wildfire smoke and your health The web page provides information and resources such as: Visualization methodsuggests actions you should take to protect your health and safety.
Tuesday: Asthma and Your Health
Protect your health with a check current air pollution levels From 15 PDEQ air monitors around eastern Pima County. ozone Pollution levels tend to be higher from April to September.
Wednesday: Air quality and transport
Transportation is the largest source of air and climate pollution in Pima County. Reduce personal mobility emissions by using public transport, carpooling, biking, walking and teleworking to commute and other travel. Remember, transit Fares will continue to be free until at least June 30, 2023.
Thursday: Air quality and climate
Sources of air pollution are also sources of greenhouse gases, contributing to global climate change. In addition, climate change is deteriorating air quality. Extreme heat and drought increase the frequency and intensity of disasters. Forest firecausing elevated levels fine particles and ozone pollution.
Friday: Participatory Science
The PDEQ Clean Air Program is a program to install air quality sensors in schools in Pima County in partnership with the University of Arizona School of Public Health. PDEQ received a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to fund this program to address environmental justice in the region.
Breathable air is just a 6-mile layer that surrounds the earth. Keeping it clean and healthy is precious and important. Air Quality Awareness Week is the starting point for a greater understanding and appreciation of healthy, breathable air 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.
For more information, www.pima.gov/HealthyAir.
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