Last summer,record-breaking heat waves swept the world, continuing a decades-long trend of rising temperatures driven by climate change. And it’s looking like this year may be even hotter. Thoughlong, sunny summer days can be perfect for outdoor fun (especially when you’re near a large body of water), they also bring an increased risk of heat-related illnesses and unhealthy air pollution. Understanding how extreme heat can impact air quality and our health is key to minimizing air pollution exposure and staying safe while enjoying the summer months.
The impact of summer heat on air quality
When we talk about poor outdoor air quality, we often focus on extreme weather events, like wildfires, or human-made pollution, like transportation emissions. However, plenty of other factors can impact air quality, includingseasonal changes in temperature and weather patterns. Long summer days bring plenty of sunshine, heat, and stagnant air that can drive significantincreases in different types of air pollution.
Ground-level ozone formation
Sunny summer days create the perfect conditions for the formation of ground-level ozone, the main component of smog. Ozone is a harmful pollutant that cancause respiratory problems, like coughing, trouble breathing, and aggravated asthma symptoms, even at low levels of exposure. It forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and other sourcesreact with each other in the presence of sunlight and heat. You’re most likely to see unhealthy ozone levels during hot, sunny days, especially if you live somewhere with lots of busy roads or industrial facilities.
Increased particulate matter (PM)
Particulate matter refers to a wide variety of tiny particles small enough to float in the air. When inhaled, the smallest of these particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, leading to potential respiratory and cardiovascular health issues.
There are a few reasons why particle pollution tends to get worse during the summer. First, heat waves and droughts can dry out the soil, increasing the likelihood of wildfires and dust storms that quickly drive particle pollution to unhealthy levels. On top of that, we also see increases in particulate matter caused by:
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Pollen from grasses that flower during the summer months;
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Increased transportation emissions from summer travel;
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Mold growth fueled by hot, humid climates.
Stagnant air days
While a nice breeze can do wonders to cool you off on a sweltering summer afternoon, it also plays a vital role in improving outdoor air quality. Winds keep outdoor air moving and help prevent pollutants like dust, smoke, and smog from building up in one area. Hot, dry summer weather typically brings anincrease in stagnant air days — a trend that’s likely to continue as summer temperatures keep rising. Without wind to provide air circulation, pollution gets trapped in one place and can quickly build to unhealthy levels.
Health impacts of poor summer air quality
Hot summer temperatures alreadyincrease the risk of heat-related illnesses ranging from sunburn to heat stroke. When you add poor summer air quality to the effects of extreme heat, there’s even more reason to be mindful of the time you spend outdoors. Exposure to air pollution, including ground-level ozone and particulate matter, canlead to harmful health effects, including:
- Respiratory problems, such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and an increased risk of pneumonia and other respiratory infections
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Worsened allergy symptoms
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Increased symptoms, medication use, and emergency room visits for people with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
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Increased risk of cardiovascular issues, including heart attack and stroke
Some people are especiallyvulnerable to heat-related air quality hazards, including:
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Children
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Older adults
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Pregnant people
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People with pre-existing heart and lung conditions
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Anyone who works or exercises outside
Tips for maintaining good indoor air quality during summer heat waves
When outdoor air pollution rises, it can impact the air quality inside your home too. Now that you know how summer heat can affect ground-level ozone, particulate matter, pollen, and other pollutants, let’s dig into how you can take action to maintain good air quality indoors.
1. Perform regular HVAC system maintenance.
Your heating and cooling system has the very important job of keeping your home at a comfortable temperature during summer heat waves, but its impact on your indoor air doesn’t stop there. Every time your HVAC kicks on, it helps improve air quality by filtering pollutants and circulating the air around your home. Regular maintenance, like tune-ups and filter changes, can helpkeep your HVAC running smoothly during the hottest months of the year.
2. Use air purifiers to clean the air.
Your HVAC filter should remove some of the larger particles from your indoor air, such as dust and pet hair, but it has its limits. Air purifiers, likeMolekule Air Pro for large spaces andAir Mini+ for smaller rooms, can remove pollutants more efficiently than residential HVAC filters. Plus,you can (and should!) keep your air purifier running twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, so it never stops working to trap pollutants like pollen, dust, and mold in your indoor air.
3. Close windows and doors to keep pollution out.
Try to keep your windows and doors closed on poor air quality days to prevent outdoor pollen and pollutants from entering your home. Summer is also a great time to seal any cracks or gaps around doors and window frames — not only will this help keep pollution out, but it’ll also make your air conditioner’s job easier by keeping cool air indoors.
4. Use a dehumidifier to cut down on excess moisture.
Hot, humid summer weather provides the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. Using a dehumidifier to keep your home’s relative humidity between 30 and 50% can help reduce airborne mold spores and keep your home from getting too musty.
Managing summer pollen allergies
Around the beginning of the summer,grasses start to flower and release pollen into the air. If you have summer pollen allergies, spending time outdoors can trigger symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose. Since it’s not really practical (or enjoyable) to spend the entire summer indoors, here are some tips to cut down on seasonal allergy symptoms:
- Stay informed: Pollen levels can fluctuate throughout the summer, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on local air quality forecasts. You can find current pollen counts in your area with theNational Allergy Bureau tool, and Airnow.gov is a great resource for monitoring ground-level ozone and particle pollution near you.
- Avoid tracking pollen indoors: When you spend time outside, pollen in the air can settle on your skin, hair, clothes, and shoes. To keep your indoor allergen levels low, try showering and changing into new clothes soon after you get back inside. (Don’t forget to wipe down your pet’s feet and coat after they play outside too!)
- Use anti-allergy bedding:Hypoallergenic mattress covers and bedding can help keep pollen, dust mites, and other allergens from building up in your bed. They’re made of tightly woven fabric that forms a barrier between airborne pollutants and your pillows or mattress, so allergens stay on the surface and can be easily cleaned away in the washing machine.
- Clean regularly: Household dust is made up of many different components, including common allergens like pollen, dust mites, and mold spores. Vacuuming, mopping, and dusting your home regularly can help keep indoor allergy triggers to a minimum.
Stay safe from summer air pollution
Summer weather is ideal for so many of our favorite outdoor activities, but it also comes with its fair share of air quality hazards. High summer temperatures, especially on stagnant air days, can cause pollutants like ground-level ozone and particulate matter to reach unhealthy levels. Minimize your pollution exposure this summer by monitoring your local air quality forecasts, enjoying outdoor plans on good air quality days, and maintaining healthy indoor air quality withMolekule air purifiers.
