Public Health Spotlight: Protect your family from poor air quality and enjoy a #JeffcoSafeSummer

By Nikki Wellander, Senior Media Specialist, JCPH

Call it smoke, call it smog, call it haze, call it fog — whatever you call it, poor air quality is one of the few downsides about summer in Edgewater. Because of the atmosphere, climate and landscape here in Jefferson County — and in the Denver Metro Area at large — air pollutants get trapped between the mountains and the plains, right overhead from the places most of us live, work, play and learn. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) works hand-in-hand with state and federal health officials to monitor and advise the public about air quality concerns here in our community.

One of the most prevalent causes of poor air quality in Colorado is ground-level ozone. This air pollutant is formed when source emissions such as those from vehicles, industry, certain household products and lawn and garden equipment combine with sunlight on hot, dry and stagnant summer days. In 2022, Colorado saw 40 days with high enough ozone levels to warrant “Ozone Action Days,” or days with advisories to modify behavior due to high ozone levels.

Another major concern in Colorado is smoke from wildfires, which can irritate the respiratory system and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. This spring and summer, we have seen significant concerns with smoky air in the Denver Metro Area, as weather patterns have carried smoke from Canadian wildfires south.

While poor air quality is unsafe for everyone, there are several groups of people who are at higher risk of more severe health concerns, including people with heart or lung diseases (including asthma), older adults, children and infants. It is also well documented that residents in disproportionately impacted communities feel these effects to a higher degree.

As the weather continues to get warmer, there are three important steps you and your loved ones can take to lessen the impact of poor air quality.

1. Stay informed and get air quality updates. JCPH offers an air quality alert system. Jeffco residents can sign-up to receive air quality alerts from JCPH via text or email. On the NotifyMe webpage, scroll down to “Alert Center.” Select “Air Quality Alerts from Public Health” and enter your phone number and/or email address. Residents can also stay up-to-date on air quality concerns in the area by visiting the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s websiteand the Regional Air Quality Council website.
2. When air quality is poor, JCPH encourages residents to spend more time indoors, including exercising indoors, and to plan outdoor activities at times when ozone levels are lower (typically morning and evening).
3. Do your part to reduce poor air quality in your community. Actions like reducing car trips by using other forms of transportation (biking, walking, scootering or using public transit), carpooling and teleworking when possible can help reduce emissions and lessen pollution. Other helpful tips to reduce your impact include:
   1. Avoid idling in your vehicle. If stopping for more than 60 seconds, turn the engine off.
   2. Mow your lawn after 5 p.m. to prevent ground-level ozone.
   3. Refuel your vehicle after 5 p.m. and “stop at the click” to prevent gasoline vapors from turning into air pollution.
   4. Order groceries online and bundle deliveries to reduce car trips (bonus points – schedule your deliveries for after 5 p.m.).
   5. Find more helpful tips and tricks on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.

As you make conscious choices to help reduce pollution and the impact of poor air quality on your family, JCPH wants to hear about it. Skip a car trip? Great! Find an indoor activity to entertain your family on an Ozone Action Day? Awesome. Share your #JeffcoSafeSummer wins with us using our Google submission form. Throughout the summer, we will share your tips and successes with the rest of our community on our social media.

Learn more about JCPH’s Air Quality work.

About Jefferson County Public Health

Public health is what we do collectively to prevent illness and premature death and promote health in our neighborhoods and communities. Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is a nationally accredited health department committed to promoting and protecting health across the lifespan for all people through prevention, education and partnerships. To learn more about JCPH visit https://www.jeffco.us/public-health. You can also follow JCPH on Twitter @JeffcoPH, Instagram @JeffcoPH and Facebook @jeffcopublichealth.

Joel Newton

Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.