Green Tips: Smog Alerts and the Ops

6 Pages·1999·0.09 MB·English

by  Ontario Ministry of the Environment: Communications Branch

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Ontario May
1999
Doing yourpart
Smog
alerts and the OPS
What you can do to help • reschedule lawn mowing, using pesticides
combat smog
and herbicides and leaf blowing
Smog is a combination of airborne pollutants • make sure equipment is turned off when-
that affect our health and our natural envi- ever it's not in use
ronment. Most harmful are ground-level • restrict use of gasoline-powered equipment
Smog is made up of
ozone and fine airborne particles that can • avoid using volatile organic compound
airborne pollutants,
enter our lungs. These contaminants come (VOC) products such as paints, solvents or
the most harmful of
from vehicles and other gasoline or diesel- cleaners
which areground-
powered machinery, factories, chemical • postpone refuelling government vehicles
level ozone and fine sprays, oil-based paints, airborne dust and • avoid open burning
airborneparticles. other sources.
High levels ofsmog Checklist for all members of
the OPS
can cause coughing, Make it a top priority
wheezing and tight- The Ministry of the Environment takes the Here are just a few things you can do to
ness ofthe chest. lead in the day-to-day job of protecting the improve the air we breathe and to protect
Elderlypeople, chil- environment. Among its initiatives, it has yourself.
dheraerntaannddpreeospplierawtiotrhy wdehveenloupneadccaesppteacbiallyphriogghralemvetlos wofargnroruensdid-ents At work:
level ozone are expected. When ministry fore- • consider teleconferencing, instead of
problems areparticu- travelling, to meetings
casts indicate occurrences of ground-level
larly vulnerable. ozone in excess of 80 parts per billion (ppb) • take public transit, or better yet, walk or
All ofus can take over a wide geographic area, the ministry cycle to work
issues a smog alert. • if you use a car, don't travel alone. Try the
steps to protect our-
In co-operation with Management Board's government's car pool matching program:
dsealyvsesaonndstomoigmparloevrte dGorienegn eWvoerrkyptlhaicnge iPtrcoagnratmo,rtehdeucmeineimsitsrsyiiosns • caavlolid1-t8r0af0f-ic56c-oSngHeAsRtEiofnor information
the quality of the air that create smog from government buildings • work at home if it's feasible
we breathe.
in the Greater Toronto Area. Whether at
At home:
work or at home, the less energy we use,
and the more energy efficient we are, the • turn down the air conditioning
better it will be for the air we breathe. • avoid letting your car, or any other
On smog alert days there are very specific engine, idle for long periods
actions we can take. • restrict your use of gasoline-powered
equipment
Checklist for facilities managers • leave mowing the lawn for another day
on smog alert days • don't use oil-based products such as paints,
• reduce air conditioning in government solvents or cleaners if you can avoid them.
buildings by three degrees Celsius They contain volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), which contribute to smoo.
Ministry of the Environment
Green Tips
• avoid strenuous exercise in the heat of For further information
the day contact:
• stay indoors if you can - a cool, moist Public Information Centre
atmosphere is best Ministry of the Environment
• don't use the barbecue 135 St. Clair Ave. West
Finding solutions to our environmental prob- Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5
lems takes a concerted and active effort by
Telephone: [phone] or
all of us. But with each of us taking personal
responsibility and setting an example, we toll free at 1-800-565-4923.
can make a difference. Internet: www.ene.gov.on.ca
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