You are

driving to work on I-85. Ahead is one of those message

boards that light up and tell you of traffic delays.

Today it reads: "Tomorrow will be a smog alert

day."

You think

about this message and, like many other commuters, think

nothing of it and stick with your routine. You think,

"Why do I have to do something about Smog? Will the

actions of one man or woman really make a difference? and

"What is Smog anyway? Los Angeles has had it for

years and they are doing OK."

Smog is the

brown-orange gas that you can sometimes see hanging over

the skyline. The main component of smog is ozone, the

very same thing that protects our skin from harmful solar

radiation, and when it forms at ground level it can be

dangerous to our health. The ozone forms at ground level

and then mixes in with the pollutants from our cars,

planes and other gas powered implements that are used

quite frequently by a large number of people.

The

pollutants are trapped in this low hanging smog and it

makes it very hot and very hard to breathe.

Typically,

smog alert days occur when it is hot and sunny, which

pretty much describes every day of the summer in Georgia.

Factor in the rapid growth of the state with the

worsening traffic situation and smog alert days start to

happen more and more frequently. Smog season takes place

from May 1 to Sept. 30.

Labeling a

certain day a smog alert day is the responsibility of

scientists that work for the Environmental Protection

Division. When they think that tomorrow's weather

conditions will be right for possible ground ozone

formation, they alert the news media, Partnership for a

Smog Free Georgia members, and the people who put the

messages on those gigantic boards on the highway.

They alert

as many people as possible because there are certain

things that can be done to alleviate the situation. First

off is changing your commuting pattern. By carpooling,

using mass transit, traveling before or after the big

rush or tele-commuting, your wasted time sitting in

gridlock is reduced as well as your stress levels.

The same

effect can be reached by combining your errands on smog

alert days. By running your errands all at once or by

doing them on your way home from work, there is no need

to keep getting into your car and releasing more exhaust

into the congested air.

Sixty-five

percent of the miles that Atlantans drive aren't

commuting miles; they are driven for leisure purposes or

running errands. By sharing rides or by using public

transit, there is less wear and tear on your car, traffic

and parking hassles are a thing of the past, and money

can be saved.

There are

also things that can be done around the house to make

things easier, such as not using gas-powered equipment

like the lawnmower or leaf blowers during the cooler

evening hours. This way you are maintaing your lawn in

the excruciating heat and you don't breathe the harmful

air.

If you

would like to know more about the Partnership for a Smog

Free Georgia, call 404-363-7032 or visit their web site

at www.ga-psg.org. If you are interested in trying to

improve Georgia's air quality, call the Clean Air

Campaign at 404-364-2624.

Eventually,

smog season will be over, but it will start up again,

sooner than you think.

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