Summer, grills heating up—remember tips to go green, breathe clean

Air Pollution Watches & Warnings | Green Grillin' Tips

With summer in full swing and temperatures soaring, it’s important to be aware of air pollution watch and warning days which occur when high levels of ozone are present in the air.

Breathing ozone can:

• Make it more difficult to breathe deeply
• Cause shortness of breath and pain when taking a deep breath
• Cause coughing and sore or scratchy throat
• Inflame and damage the lung lining
• Make lungs more susceptible to infection
• Aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis
• Increase the frequency of asthma attacks
• Continue to damage the lungs even when the symptoms have disappeared

Because of these harmful effects, people are advised to limit or avoid outdoor exposure on air pollution watch/warning days.

Some people are more sensitive to ozone than others.  Sensitive groups include children, elderly, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis.  Even healthy adults can be affected by ozone. 

Know the air quality index to better understand the severity of pollution and related health impacts
The Air Quality Index commonly known as the AQI is an index used for reporting daily air quality levels. Colors indicate how polluted the air is and how to protect your health.

Sign up to receive Air Pollution Watch and Warning (Clean Air Mail)
e-mails or watch and listen for AQI updates on the news and radio.

Make clean-air choices to reduce ozone-forming emissions.

With the Independence Day holiday around the corner, you can reduce your impact on ozone by greening your grill.

Try these simple tips:

• Grill on a propane or electric grill rather than a charcoal grill.
  Doing so will drastically reduce the amount of CO2 released into the air.
  
  
• Use lump charcoal made from invasive tree species, sustainably managed forests, or left over wood scraps rather than charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid.  Commercial charcoal briquettes contain potentially cancer-causing chemicals and burn at temperatures high enough to promote carcinogenic charring on food.
  
  
• Send online, rather than paper, invitations.
  You'll save cash while minimizing paper waste.
  
  
• Combine trips to the store by planning ahead and making a shopping list instead of traveling to many stores, many times to get BBQ essentials.  Also, consider shopping at a superstore that has everything you need. Going to one store will save you time and gas money.  It will also emit less pollution into the air.
  
  
• Choose lean cuts of meat or trim fat prior to cooking.
   Dripping fat causes flare ups that contribute to ozone.  Also, grill meats at lower temperatures for a longer time to reduce the production of carcinogens.
  
  
• Compost veggie peels, corn husks, etc. rather than tossing them in the trash. Composting is easier than you think, it's great for your garden, and it's an easy way to get your kids involved in saving their planet.
  
  
• Grow your own veggies or buy them at a local farmers market rather than pre-packaged, chemically-treated vegetables. You could even use that compost you've been making!
  
  
• Use metal utensils and ceramic plates instead of plastic utensils and paper or plastic plates. Take your guests up on their offers to wash them in the sink. Plastic utensils and paper plates get thrown away and don’t break down in a landfill.  If you must use plasticware, make sure it’s made of recycled materials and is biodegradable.
  
  
• Use a cloth tablecloth, blanket or sheet and cloth napkins or wash cloths rather than plastic tablecloths and paper napkins.  Toss them in the washer using cold water and an eco-friendly detergent; and line dry.  It might be a little extra work, but you'll have the most stylish cook-out in town!
  
  
• Recycle any cans or bottles after serving beverages. Also, consider buying family-size bottles (which you then recycle) or make pitchers of drinks.
  
  
• To light your yard, try solar lights or bug-deterring soy wax candles instead of electric lights or tiki torches.  Less CO2 output means more nights under the clear, starry skies for generations to come.
  
  
• Scrape the grill while it's still hot so it's clean for next time. Also, for utensils use soap, water, and natural cleaning products instead of harsh cleaners.