|
You are here:
Health Home >
Environmental Health >
Air Quality
Boulder County Air Quality
EPA Offers Tips to Save
Energy and Fight Climate Change this Summer
EPA has published a list of energy-saving tips for the home
and office to reduce energy bills, air pollution, and
greenhouse gas emissions this summer. State, local, and
tribal governments can implement these tips in their
buildings and share them with residents and businesses.
Continued
Mow Down
Pollution!!
You can make a difference by trading in
that old gas mower for an electric one. Despite their size, spark-ignition small
engines (such as those commonly found in lawn and garden equipment) are
big polluters.
Because mowers are used mostly during the
hot summer months when ground level ozone is the highest, their use
increases problems for asthmatics and further aggravates other
respiratory conditions.
Continued
Make a difference, and get a great deal on
an electric mower. Visit at
www.ozoneaware.org and click on Mow Down Pollution for a coupon.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Fines CEMEX;
Compliance Order Resolves Issues Dating Back to 2006
Friday, March 6, 2009 - DENVER - CEMEX has agreed to a $528,325
enforcement penalty and to make a variety of air quality improvements at
its Lyons cement plant in Boulder County, according to the Colorado
Department of Public Health and Environment. The settlement agreement
resolves alleged violations of state air quality laws and the plant’s
air permit dating back to 2006.
Continued
Call
Before You Burn - New County Ordinance
There is a
new county ordinance that now prohibits all ditch, field, or slash fires
on days identified by the National Weather Service as "red flag" fire days. The
ordinance also requires notification of the Boulder Sheriff's Communications at
303-441-4444. As a reminder, a permit from Boulder County Public Health (BCPH)
is required to burn slash (i.e. forest debris), and no slash burning is allowed
from November 1 – February 28 at altitudes less than 6,400 feet, due to air
pollution regulations. In March, slash burning is prohibited during a
RED air
quality advisory (agricultural burns are exempt). Go to
www.BoulderCountyAir.org to apply for a burn permit or to check the air
quality status. Air quality updates are also available by phone at
303-758-4848. NOTE: Burn permits issued by BCPH are for slash piles
only; burning trash or leaves is prohibited at all times in Boulder County.
Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke
Smoke from wildfires can irritate the eyes
and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated
sinuses, headaches, stinging eyes, or a runny nose. This is
because fine particles (also called particulate matter, or
PM) can get into your eyes and respiratory system. These
particles can also aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases
- even cause premature deaths in people who have these chronic
conditions.
Continued
All
Air Quality News
|
