Air Health Our Health Money & Lives- the True Cost of Ozone with Dr. Nicholas Nassikas
Ozone is a highly reactive gas and forms a significant portion of the air pollution that affects all of us. For this episode, I was joined by Dr. Nicholas Nassikas of Harvard University to discuss the links between ozone and health, as well as to review the staggering amount of money we are spending in terms of the health toll of air pollution. We are spending more on the health toll of air pollution now than the cost of transitioning off of fossil fuels to help decrease the pollution we all breathe. Listen and learn!
What can you do?
1- Download the Airnow app or go to the airnow.gov website to become familiar with the Air Quality index, which incorporates ozone and PM2.5.
2- To learn more about PM2.5 standards and history, listen to the “What’s in a Standard” episode with Dan Costa from Season Two.
3- For more on how to use the Air Quality Index, listen to the “What’s in an Index” episode with Dr. Franziska Rosser from last season.
4- Vote for elected officials committed to addressing climate change. Write to them regularly about your concern regarding topics like ozone, which causes disease and can increase in the setting of rising temperatures.
5- Advocate for policies in your communities that can reduce ozone by decreasing use of combustion for transportation, such as more bike lanes, public transit, increased walkability and more.
6- Consider a donation to the American Lung Association, who advocates tirelessly for clean air.
7- Consider buying an Air Health Our Health T-shirt, mug, hat or tote that emphasizes the health benefits of clean air. This can help spark a conversation with those in your community. Proceeds go to the American Lung Association as well.
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