The Week's Unhealthy Air

Air pollution got so bad in the Denver metro area last week that we exceeded federal health standards.

On both Wednesday and Thursday, particulate pollution climbed to levels not seen since last February. These particulates aren't made of dust and dirt. They're acid droplets that form when pollution from smokestacks and tailpipes condense.

These particulates are less than 2.5 microns in diameter, or less than 1/28 the size of a human hair. They're so small that they make their way to the bottoms of our lungs and even into our bloodstream. Called PM-2.5, these particles are linked to a number of health problems, including premature death.

If this is news to you, don't be surprised. None of the local newspapers or TV stations actually reported the news. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a red pollution advisory on both days, but it didn't make news at all.

The sad thing is, Denver has been dealing with unhealthy particulate pollution for awhile now. Last winter, the metro area exceeded federal health standards 9 days in a row. Have things changed? It doesn't seem like it.

In the meantime, if you want to check in on air quality in the Denver metro area, you can check out Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action's website, which is linked to current air quality readings.

And, if you're frustrated that we still have to deal with unhealthy particulate air pollution, e-mail Jim Martin, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, at james.martin@state.co.us. Please tell him that it's abhorrent that the Denver metro area is exceeding particulate pollution standards, and that the state should cut pollution from smokestacks and tailpipes to keep us safe.

Here's Denver's particulate pollution from last Wednesday afternoon.