Outdoor Air Quality

Though people hear the term "pollution" all the time, most don't realize just how bad it can be. A good way to check is by Googling the current API (air quality index) in your area. I think the LA area right now is somewhere between 12 and 20 - which is actually really great. However, areas like Salt Lake City, Utah, have much higher APIs (66), so their outdoor air quality isn't as good, especially for asthma and allergy sufferers. And it's not like we can somehow get a huge air purifier that can circulate the outdoor air. Sadly, it doesn't work like that. Here are some tips that the US Environmental Protection Agency have suggested to help the environment as much as you can:

- Walk, bike, or carpool if you really have to. Or, better yet, use public transportation whenever you can.
- Try not to refuel your car before 7 PM.
- Try to avoid other gasoline powered rec vehicles.
- Use an electric starter when barbecuing instead of charcoal lighter fluid.
- Avoid using gasoline-powered garden equipment (lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc).