# WashDopers - how dangerous is "code orange" air quality? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2007, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914 "2007-08-08T21:01:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2007, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/1 "2007-08-08T21:01:17Z")
There was a “Code Orange” air quality warning issued for Washington, DC, today - but the Metro was shut down because of a bomb threat, so I ended up walking about two-three miles to get home. Obviously, this was less than smart - heat-stroke is nothing to play around with. But how dangerous is the “Code Orange” thing? Did one afternoon of walking put me in a higher risk bracket for lung cancer, or what? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/2 "2007-08-08T21:16:19Z")
From one of your local [TV news stations](http://www.nbc4.com/news/13804298/detail.html): > [@Channel 4](#): > > A code orange day indicates that ozone levels are predicted to be extremely high and the air quality very poor. > > According to the American Lung Association, high ozone levels act as a powerful respiratory irritant at the levels frequently found in the D.C. area during summer months. > > The ALA said ozone exposure may lead to shortness of breath, chest pains when inhaling deeply and wheezing and coughing. > > Long-term, repeated exposure to high levels of ozone may lead to reductions in lung function, inflammation of the lung lining and increased respiratory discomfort. > > The very young and senior citizens are encouraged to stay indoors during elevated air quailty days. Doesn’t sound like any health risk for someone fit enough to walk a few miles to get home. The greater danger would have been dehydration. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2007, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/3 "2007-08-08T21:49:22Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] From one of your local [TV news stations](http://www.nbc4.com/news/13804298/detail.html): Doesn’t sound like any health risk for someone fit enough to walk a few miles to get home. The greater danger would have been dehydration. [/QUOTE] Thanks, **gotpasswords**. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/4 "2007-08-08T22:50:53Z")
[District Of Columbia Air Quality Conditions & Forecasts](http://cfpub.epa.gov/airnow/index.cfm?action=airnow.showlocal&cityid=270) From [http://airnow.gov/](http://airnow.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![Spiral\_Stairs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Spiral\_Stairs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiral_Stairs)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/5 "2007-08-09T00:10:25Z")
Funny, I spent a bit of time this afternoon trying to find the answer to this question. I live about two miles from work, and typically commute by foot. The complication is that I commute while pushing my one-year-old son in a stroller, and I was worried about exposing him to the heat for the 35 minutes of the walk. After doing my Google due diligence, I decided to do it. I figured I would just walk fast and keep air moving over him. (I’d applied the same calculus yesterday, though it wasn’t QUITE as hot as today.) He seemed to be fine. I, on the other hand, was sopping wet by the time we got home. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/6 "2007-08-09T02:06:11Z")
For what it’s worth, the term “WashDopers” isn’t the best way to get the attention of Washington, D.C. dopers. My first thought was that this thread was about Washington state. I’d suggest using D.C. or just spelling out that you mean Washington, D.C. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/7 "2007-08-09T05:21:36Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Excellent] … so I ended up walking about two-three miles to get home. Obviously, this was less than smart - heat-stroke is nothing to play around with. [/QUOTE] > [@Spiral Stairs](#): > > I was worried about exposing him to the heat for the 35 minutes of the walk. :rolleyes: Ya know for a vast majority human history air conditioning did not exist, and temps in the 90s do not equal a death sentence. As long as you stay hydrated you are fine temp wise. Hell people lived (and still do) in Arizona and Texas without the benefit of A/C. The air quality is a different matter, I am not arguing about it not being a good thing to exercise in poor air quality. I am only addressing the temp issue. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/8 "2007-08-09T10:10:23Z")
[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner] For what it’s worth, the term “WashDopers” isn’t the best way to get the attention of Washington, D.C. dopers. [/QUOTE] True, but it got \*your \* attention, didn’t it? 😃 Northern Virginia is code for “Outer Washington D.C.” We’re not really Virginians except for our driver’s licenses and zip codes. ---
**Author:** ![Spiral\_Stairs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Spiral\_Stairs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiral_Stairs)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/9 "2007-08-09T13:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] :rolleyes: Ya know for a vast majority human history air conditioning did not exist, and temps in the 90s do not equal a death sentence. As long as you stay hydrated you are fine temp wise. Hell people lived (and still do) in Arizona and Texas without the benefit of A/C… [/QUOTE] And my boy is half-Indian. He probably doesn’t start feeling uncomfortable until metal is buckling. (This, by the way: “:rolleyes:” seems unnecessary. If we were speaking in person and you rolled your eyes at my expression of concern for my baby, I would have a much stronger reaction.) ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2007, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washdopers-how-dangerous-is-code-orange-air-quality/414914/10 "2007-08-09T13:40:41Z")
The TV station gets it right; the only thing I’d add is that ozone can trigger attacks in asthmatics, so they should be extra careful.