August 15, 2012, Portage, IN – The Northwest Indiana Clean Air initiative (nwicleanair.com) has been diligently working to help educate and inform the community about how to think green so that we can all breathe easy. However, to understand how individuals, families, and businesses can positively impact air quality, it’s important to understand how the reverse – poor air quality – can affect day-today activities and, more importantly, the health of everyone in Northwest Indiana.

According to the American Lung Association, two types of air pollution dominate the problem in the United States – ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot). They aren’t the only serious air pollutants. Others include carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, as well as scores of toxins such as mercury, arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, and acid gases.

However, ozone and particle pollution are the most widespread pollutants and among the most dangerous. Recent research has revealed new insights into how they can harm the body.

• Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion.
• It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.
• Ground-level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.

A major review of particle pollution and other air pollutants concluded that many cause heart attacks, even when people inhaled elevated levels for as little as one week. This review looked at evidence from 177 studies and found that particle pollution (both fine and coarse), carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide all increased the risk of heart attack.

“It’s important to be aware of the many types of air pollutants,” stated Kathy Luther, Director of Environmental Programs, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC). “However, we have recognized how the two most prevalent – ozone and air particles – are affecting the lives of Northwest Indiana residents.”

According to Luther, across the three counties of Northwest Indiana, recent studies from the American Lung Association show that 9% of adults suffer from asthma, 4% live with chronic bronchitis, 38% have a form of cardio-vascular disease, and 10% of the children in Lake and LaPorte counties struggle with pediatric asthma.
Luther added that the number of adults with asthma is nearly that of adults with diabetes. When you consider how diabetics make adjustments to their diet in order to be as healthy as possible, everyone should make adjustments to improve air quality for those who live with asthma and other lung diseases.

When it comes to air quality in local, Northwest Indiana communities, people can access the Air Quality Index – a measurement of pollutants in the air – on nwicleanair.com. The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your air is and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. By using the AQI, you can better determine whether or not it’s a good day to go for a bike ride, spend an afternoon in the park, or head to one of the many beaches along Lake Michigan’s southern shoreline.

“The Air Quality Index is my go-to resource in planning outdoor activities with my family,” commented Stacie Brouses. “I’ve suffered with asthma all of my life, and my six-year old son, who is active in soccer and baseball, is affected to the point that his inhaler is a part of his sports gear…when the AQI is green, he’s good to go. Anything worse that yellow, and he’s sitting on the sidelines.”

“Everyone can make ‘lifestyle’ adjustments to the air quality in Northwest Indiana,” said Luther. “By logging on the nwicleanair.com, we’ve assembled a list of easy-to-do changes in your daily activities that can help to improve the air quality in our community.

“I take one trip to drop the kids off at school, go to the bank, and pick up my dry cleaning,” concluded Sandy Harms of Valparaiso. “And, instead of being the ‘drive-thru’ queen everywhere I went, I now park my car and go into a bank or a store. I know it’s good for the air…with the combined benefit of a bit of exercise that’s good for my health.”

For more information on air quality and your health, in addition to easy tips on how individuals and businesses can join the efforts of NWI Clean Air, visit nwicleanair.com today.

Northwest Indiana – where it all adds up to cleaner air. Brought to you by Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, a clean air leader.

For more information:
Kathy Luther, kluther@nirpc.org
Director of Environmental Programs
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
6100 Southport Road
Portage, IN 46368
219-763-6060 x 127
kluther@nirpc.org

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June 29, 2012, Portage, IN – During these hot days of summer, Northwest Indiana Clean Air reminds you to Think Green to Breathe Easy. Good air quality is impacted by long hot days, especially when there are several such days in a row. There are many things you can do to help improve air quality at home, and for your neighbors across the region:

• Conserve energy in your home, which improves air quality by reducing energy needs from power plants; turn off appliances and lights when not in use.
• Try to fill your gas tank either early in the morning or later in the evening when it is typically cooler to reduce evaporation – and don’t top it off.
• Reduce car idling – turn off your car engine while waiting for a train to pass. Park and walk into a restaurant or bank rather than wait in a long drive-through line. You’ll save time and fuel.
• Combine errands or “trip chaining” – plan your route so that all your errands can be done in one trip with the least amount of stops and miles.
• Keep household paints, solvents, and pesticides in air-tight containers.
• Mow your lawn after 7 p.m.
• Avoid using boats, motorcycles, and other small engine vehicles on hot, sunny days.
• Take your lunch to work to reduce lunchtime trips.
• Get regular engine tune-ups and keep the right amount of air in the tires. Well-maintained vehicles create less pollution.
• Learn Ozone Action Day colors. They can tell you how clean or polluted your air is and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. Unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone can impact the health of family members and coworkers – especially children, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung ailments.

Cynthia, from Lake Station, has a child with asthma. “I used to think that it would be good to go to the beach any day and didn’t understand why my daughter’s asthma would act up on some of those really hot days. Now, I know to check the ozone color. If it’s not green or yellow, we find things to do inside like go to the library.”

Being aware of how our actions can effect air quality is something all Northwest Indiana residents can do. Sharing ideas with friends, neighbors, and coworkers can make difference. John, from LaPorte, commutes to Lake County every day for his work. “My neighbor and I actually work fairly close to each other in north Lake County. We made some minor adjustments to our work schedules and now we carpool together. On the really bad ozone days, we opt to take the train. I really enjoy hiking at the Dunes. So I’m happy to make these small changes to help the air quality and environment.”

Northwest Indiana Clean Air, an initiative developed by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC), is a partnership between the people and businesses of northwest Indiana to help all residents Think Green & Breathe Easy – understanding and inspiring actions to improve the air quality of this unique region.

For more information on how individuals and businesses can join the efforts of Northwest Indiana Clean Air, visit www.nwicleanair.com today.

Northwest Indiana – where it all adds up to cleaner air. Brought to you by Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, a clean air leader.

For more information:
Kathy Luther, kluther@nirpc.org
Director of Environmental Programs
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
6100 Southport Road
Portage, IN 46368
219-763-6060 x 127
kluther@nirpc.org

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June 6, 2012, Portage, IN – From a very young age, children can recognize and name colors. However, when it comes to the air quality in local communities, it’s up to the parent to check the “color of the day” – a measurement of pollutants in the air know as the Air Quality Index (AQI), which is translated into colors associated with the air quality of each day. By using the AQI, you can better determine whether or not it’s a good day to go for a bike ride, spend an afternoon in the park, or head to one of the many beaches along Lake Michigan’s southern shoreline.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your air is and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, the EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health. Unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone can impact the health of family members and coworkers – especially children, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung ailments.

“Two of my three kids have been affected by asthma from a very young age,” commented Meredith Seymour of Valparaiso, Indiana. “And, when school is out and kids want to play outdoors, I regularly check the AQI to see if their activity might lead to respiratory problems or a full-blown asthma attack.”

How Does the AQI Work?

An easy way to understand how the AQI works is like this: think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.

To make it easy for everyone to understand, the AQI numbers are associated with colors:

Each category corresponds to a different color and a different level of health concern. The six colors and what they mean are:

• Green is “Good.” Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
• Yellow is “Moderate.” Air quality is acceptable; however, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.
• Orange is “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Although the general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults, and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
• Red is “Unhealthy.” Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
• Purple is “Very Unhealthy.” This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
• Maroon is “Hazardous.” This would trigger a health warning of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

Northwest Indiana Air Quality & Your Health

You most likely know someone, if not yourself, that is affected by some form of lung disease. Across the three counties of Northwest Indiana, recent studies from the American Lung Association show that:

• 9% of adults suffer from asthma
• 4% live with chronic bronchitis
• 38% have a form of cardio-vascular disease
• 10% of the children in Lake and LaPorte counties struggle with pediatric asthma

The number of adults with asthma is nearly that of adults with diabetes. Consider how diabetics make adjustments to their diet in order to be as healthy as possible.

NWI Indiana Clean Air, an initiative developed by the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) is a partnership between the people and businesses of Northwest Indiana to help all residents Think Green & Breathe Easy – understanding and inspiring actions to improve the air quality of this unique region.

“Everyone can make ‘lifestyle’ adjustments to the air quality in Northwest Indiana,” commented Kathy Luther, Director of Environmental Programs, NIRPC. “It’s carpooling in your daily commute, combining everyday errands so get more done while driving less, avoiding the wait time at drive-thru windows…it’s the small things that can make a big difference in the quality of the air we breathe.”

“I know that I can change some habits to make a difference in our air quality,” concluded Mike Dobis of Merrillville. “I’ve talked to my employer, my coworkers, friends, and family to let them know how they can do their share. I’m ‘walking the talk’ and trying to get others to do the same.”

For more information on how individuals and businesses can join the efforts of NWI Clean Air, visit nwicleanair.com today.

Northwest Indiana – where it all adds up to cleaner air. Brought to you by Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, a clean air leader.

For more information:
Kathy Luther, kluther@nirpc.org
Director of Environmental Programs
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
6100 Southport Road
Portage, IN 46368
219-763-6060 x 127
kluther@nirpc.org

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May 20, 2012, Portage, IN – In cooperation with the Household Hazard Waste Collection Program, the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) is offering its annual gas can exchange program.

“Old, leaky gas cans are a major contributor to air pollutions, particularly ozone formation,” said Kathy Luther, Director of Environmental Programs, NIRPC. “By giving people the opportunity to turn in an old gas can and get a new, environmentally friendly gas can for free, we help save the air while helping people in our community save money.”

Luther explained that the gas can that NIRPC gives you when you turn in an old gas can is a 2.5 gallon CARB gas can. These gas cans are leak-proof and no-spill. They are also made of a thicker plastic that prevents harmful gases from leaking through the plastic, which is a major problem with other older gas cans. In addition to preventing ozone formation, the leak-proof design helps prevent stormwater runoff; gas that is spilled can wash through stormdrain systems, polluting local streams and drainage
basins.

From June 1 through early November, there are approximately 16 gas exchange dates in locations throughout Northwest Indiana, including”

• June 9 – Lowell Street Department, 598 S. Union Street, Lowell
• June 23 – Griffith Public Works, 134 S. Colfax, Griffith
• June 30 – Dyer Public Works, 510 Edmond Drive, Dyer
• July 7 – Westchester Inter. School, 1050 S. 5th Ave., Chesterton
• July 28 – Highland Public Works, 8001 Kennedy Ave, Highland
• August 11 – Portage High School, 6450 E. Rt. 6, Portage
• September – Hobart City Barns, 340 South Shelby, Hobart
• October 6 – Lake County Fair Grounds, 889 S. Court Street, Crown Point
• October 27 – Munster Public Works, 508 Fisher St.. Munster

“The Gas Can Exchange Program is just one component of the Northwest Indiana Clean Air initiative, which encourages people in our community to think green, improve the air quality, and so breathe easy,” said Luther. “There are countless ways that consumers can help think green, and most of these things you can do take very little time or money…just being conscious of day-to-day activities.”

Luther cited several “actionable” items such as carpooling, filling your gas tank in the early morning or evening hours, don’t idle in heavy traffic or at train stops, use a push mowever, and ride your bike to the store or work, if possible.

For more information about the gas can exchange program visit the NIRPC website.

Brought to you by Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission, a leader in the Northwest Indiana Clean Air initiative where it all adds up to cleaner air.

For more information:
Kathy Luther, kluther@nirpc.org
Director of Environmental Programs
Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission
6100 Southport Road
Portage, IN 46368
219-763-6060 x 127
kluther@nirpc.org

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