— f
(
/f you
spend
time
with kids in
the summer,
you want to
keep them safe
while providing fun outdoor
experiences. Did you know that over-
exposure to the sun and air
pollution can pose serious health
effects, especially to children? You
can take several simple actions to
protect kids—and yourself.
Good up high, bad nearby.'
Keeping Kids Safe from Sun and Smog
What's the Problem?
Ozone can be protective or harmful, depending on where it is found in the atmosphere.
Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) that protects
us from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Several chemicals released over time, however,
have reduced the amount of stratospheric ozone left to protect us. Paying attention to the
summer sun is more important than ever.
Ozone at ground level (the troposphere) is formed from pollutants emitted by cars, power
plants, refineries, and other sources. Ground-level ozone is a primary component of a
chemical soup known as "smog." Smog can be particularly high in the summer. Your
chances of being affected by ground-level ozone increase the longer you are active outdoors or the
more strenuous the activity.
Health Effects
Overexposure to UV radiation can cause sunburns now, but also can lead to skin cancer,
cataracts, and premature aging of the skin. Because kids spend so much time in the sum-
mer sun, and unprotected exposure during youth puts them at increased lifetime risk for
skin cancer, protecting kids from the sun is especially important.
Kids and teenagers who are active outdoors—especially those with asthma or other respira-
tory problems—are particularly sensitive to ground-level ozone. Ozone can cause cough-
ing, throat irritation, and pain when taking a deep breath. It also can reduce lung function,
inflame the linings of the lungs, and even trigger asthma attacks the day after ozone levels
are high. Repeated inflammation over time may permanently scar lung tissue.
Check your daily UV Index and Air Quality Index (below), and follow the simple steps on the back of this fact sheet to protect kids' health.
UV Index"
Air Quality Index (AQI)4
Exposure Category UVI Range
AQI Number Health Concern Color Code
Extreme
*Reflects adoption of the Global Solar UV Index (effective May 2004).
OtoSO
51 to 100
101 to 150
151 to 200
201 to 300
Good
Moderate
Unhealthy for
sensitive groups
Unhealthy
Very unhealthy
* Although ozone reports are primarily made for metropolitan areas, ozone
can be carried by the wind to rural areas, where it can cause health problems.
) Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with vegetable oil based inks on 100% postconsumer, process chlorine free recycled paper.
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The UV Index
Developed in partnership
with the National Weather
Service, the UV Index pro-
vides a daily forecast of the
expected risk of overexposure to the
sun. The Index predicts UV intensity levels on a scale of <2 to
11 + , where <2 indicates a low risk of overexposure, and 11 +
means an extreme risk.
Actions You Can Take
• Do not burn. Five or more sunburns can double your chance
of getting skin cancer.
• When the UV Index is "high," "very high," or "extreme":
Limit outdoor activities between 10 am and 4 pm, when
the sun is most intense.
• Seek shade. When possible, conduct activities in a shaded
area. Rotate players to allow breaks in the shade.
• Generously apply sunscreen. Twenty minutes before going
outside, liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun
Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Reapply every two
hours or after swimming or sweating.
• Require hats and sunglasses. Encourage kids to find a hat
they like and wear it. Wide brim hats
offer the most sun protection. Teach
kids to wear sunglasses with 99 to
100 percent UV-A and UV-B
protection.
• Encourage t-shirts or full-
length clothing instead of
tank tops.
The Air Quality Index
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a scale used by state and local air
agencies to report how clean or polluted the air is. Ground-level
ozone is one pollutant reported. An AQI of 100 or less (green or
yellow) is considered satisfactory for most people. Air quality val-
ues above 100 (orange, red, and purple) are
considered unhealthy, first for sensi-
tive groups, but then for everyone
as the AQI gets higher.
Actions You
Can Take
• When the AQI reports
unhealthy levels, limit
physical exertion outdoors.
In many places, ozone peaks
in mid-afternoon to early
evening. Change the time of day of
strenuous outdoor activity to avoid these
hours, or reduce the intensity of the activity.
• Pay attention to symptoms. Know how to recognize symp-
toms of respiratory discomfort, such as coughing, wheezing,
and breathing difficulty, and reduce exposure if these occur.
• Rotate players in physically exerting games. Rest players to
reduce exertion.
• Provide alternative activities. Allow kids that have asthma or
other respiratory problems to participate in activities that are
less physical when pollution levels are high. If pollution levels
are particularly high, move physical activities indoors where the
air is filtered by an air conditioning system.
• Be vigilant about asthma management. People with asthma
should have adequate medication on hand and follow their
asthma management plans.
r
b find the UV Index...
Visit EPA's UV Index Web Page
www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html
Search by ZIP code for your local UV Index.
View a daily UV Index color-coded map of
the United States or a daily Index map of 58
specific monitoring locations.
Check local newspapers or listen to local
radio and TV weather forecasts.
To find the Air Quality Index...
Visit EPA's AIRNOW Web Page
www.epa.gov/airnow/
Choose your state and local area for real-time animated
maps, forecasts, and previous day's peak ozone level.
Check local newspapers or listen to local radio and TV
weather forecasts.
Visit EPA's EnviroFlash Web Page
Sign up to receive the daily UV Index,
Air Quality Index, and occasional UV
Alerts directly by e-mail.
Office of Air and Radiation (6205J)
EPA430-F-06-012
www.epa.gov
July 2006
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