Pittsburgh Works’ Post

Topic: Air Quality Awareness Week Air Quality Awareness Week will be observed from May 6-10, 2024, with the theme "Knowing Your Air." This week aims to increase awareness of air pollutants that adversely affect human and environmental health. It will highlight resources that enhance understanding of #airquality and encourage individuals to integrate this knowledge into their daily lives, promoting proactive measures to improve air quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency recently finalized clean truck and car standards. These standards tackle the climate crisis, clean up our air, and protect public health. However, some members of Congress are attempting or planning to introduce legislation that could back these health-protective standards. The clean car standards have massive benefits in addressing climate change and improving public health. They must remain intact as we move towards a zero-emission future. The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is calling on nurses to send a message to your representative asking them to vote against any Congressional Review Act Resolution or any other legislative mechanism that aims to roll back EPA's car and truck standards. Link in bio or send a message here: https://zurl.co/2Bbx.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Indoor levels of pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels, and sometimes even more. Prolonged exposure to VOCs can cause adverse reactions, including headaches, dizziness, and eye, nose, or throat irritation. Learn more about the effects indoor air quality can have on human health: https://lnkd.in/g-i4Fif

Residents are being urged to take part in a consultation on the draft version of Dundee’s 2024 Air Quality Action Plan. The Plan contains actions that the Council aims to deliver between 2024 and 2029 in order to maintain air pollutant concentrations below current air quality objectives and, where practicable, to reduce emissions further to protect health across the city. https://bit.ly/3Ryftbe

Everyone deserves the right to breathe clean air. For over 50 years, the Clean Air Act has improved the lives of millions of people across the country by regulating air pollution, allowing us to breathe easier and live healthier. However, polluting industries have fought progress every step of the way, making pollution a continued public health threat for many.   In recent months, the Biden administration has made big strides in public health and environmental protection through executive agency rulemakings including setting standards that protect us from deadly air pollutants. These finalized standards would reduce toxic emissions across industries from manufacturing, to agriculture and transportation, resulting in saved lives and clearer skies. Throughout the rulemaking process, polluting industries worked to weaken these rules, and now with the standards finalized, polluters have gone to court to challenge our life-saving air quality protections. Not only that, but polluters have also enlisted allies in Congress to use an extreme tool to weaken our clean air and we need your help to stop them. https://lnkd.in/g6skRepy

Clean Air Is A Human Right... Here in Canada and in the US bills are being introduced and are becoming laws. The Clean Air Act Bill M 211 – 2024 Had it's first reading in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. https://lnkd.in/gSvMXf6A It Passed on to second reading without opposition. "Every British Columbian deserves to breathe clean air," said Sonia Furstenau, Leader of the BC Greens and MLA for Cowichan Valley. "Air quality is essential for our health and well-being, impacting everything from home comfort to workplace productivity. Poor air quality can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory problems and cognitive impairments, which can affect our daily performance and quality of life.” https://lnkd.in/grr7RDjT This bill proposes that both indoor and outdoor environments be monitored and regulated for air quality, especially in places frequented by vulnerable groups such as children, students, and the elderly. Employers and operators will need to adhere to these new regulations to ensure safe air quality standards are met, enhancing public health and safety across the province. #cleanairinschools #cleanairlaws #dotherightthing #surgicallycleanair

This Earth Day, STOP Restoration would like to encourage you to take steps to improve your property’s air quality. According to studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), poor indoor air quality can lead to adverse health effects such as lung cancer and pneumonia. We're sharing one of our favorite tips on how to make the air inside your property cleaner and healthier!

The recently released American Lung Association State of the Air report shines a light on the challenges we face, especially here in Pennsylvania. It's concerning to learn that millions of our fellow citizens are living in areas with poor air quality, with Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia facing significant challenges. But in the face of these findings, we must remember that every action we take, no matter how small, can make a difference. Let's use this report as a wake-up call and an opportunity for positive change. I encourage each one of us to be mindful of our environmental impact, advocate for cleaner air policies, and take steps to minimize our carbon footprint. Together, we can work towards a healthier, cleaner future for Pennsylvania and beyond. For more information on air quality in Pennsylvania go to https://lnkd.in/eeac3Jq

Food for thought. Tiny particles float around in the air we breathe. Microscopic solid and liquid particulates like smoke, dust, and other aerosols from cars, factories, fires, and power plants are just a few examples of how this occurs. Thankfully, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the air quality index (AQI). It's a daily report telling us how clean or polluted our air is. #airquality #earthday #airpollution #epa #datadrivendecisionmaking #democratizedata

How can Federal agencies make smarter decisions about environmental hazards? Check out the US Government Accountability Office's white paper to discover insights on balancing risks and costs to better protect human health and the environment: https://ow.ly/ALvY50Tz260