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Why is Air Quality Important?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for physical activity recommend that children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily. The 2010 Shape of the Nation report from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education found that, nationwide, fewer than one-third of all children ages 6 to 17 participate in physical activity for at least 20 minutes that made the child sweat and breathe hard. A 2004 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that, for every hour people spend in their cars each day, they are 6% more likely to be obese.
Moreover, a study by the California Department of Education recently found a distinct relationship between academic achievement and the physical fitness of California’s public school students.
Check out these Local Resources for Public Health Education
In the Bay Area, cars, trucks, and other mobile sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone, known as “smog.” Smog can reduce lung function, aggravate asthma, inflame and damage the lining of the lung, and may have other effects. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has additional information on Air Quality and Your Health. Walking, bicycling carpooling, and taking transit to school and other activities can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing short trips.