There's danger lurking in the air we breathe. Here's how to make it cleaner.
Plus: What are "eosinophils" + How to say no to your health care provider + A free course on reshaping urban transportation
Welcome to Doing Well. Today:
An interview on what we can do to improve air quality
Health news we’ve found useful this week
Word of the week: “eosinophils”
Let’s get started.
We Asked: What can we do about air pollution?
Air quality is often invisible—until it's not. While its impact may be more obvious for those with asthma, emphysema, or other respiratory conditions, the reality is poor air quality affects everyone. According to the American Lung Association's recently released State of the Air report, almost half of the U.S. population lives in areas with air so unhealthy it received a failing grade. Alarmingly, this year's report found that almost 25 million more people are breathing unhealthy air than last year, representing a 10-year high.
Through intentional choices in our daily routines, and by supporting community and policy initiatives, we all have a role in protecting the air we breathe. I spoke with Ari Halpert—a communications department officer at the Maricopa County Air Quality Department and a former air quality specialist—about the pollutants in our air, and what we can do to make it cleaner and healthier. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Natasha Burrell: Why should everyone care about air quality?
Ari Halpert: We need air to breathe and survive. It's not just about protecting our health, it's also protecting our environment and creating a sustainable future. We have had pollution reduction [in the Phoenix area], however, with different changes and how much [the population] has expanded, we have to keep facing these new challenges and respond to those. Air is important not just for us—it's for our grandparents, our children. We have to start learning about it now, so we can ensure a healthy future.
NB: How does air quality impact our day-to-day lives?
AH: Whether we realize it or not, we are breathing in these particles. Long-term exposure to air pollution can create respiratory issues that didn't exist for us before. They can also exacerbate respiratory issues like asthma and bronchitis. We've seen a correlation of high pollution advisory days or high levels of contamination in the air and visits to the emergency room. We need clean air to breathe, and there are many sources that we aren’t aware of that are contributing to air pollution.
It's not just lung health—even our pets are affected by this. If you're experiencing allergies, it's only made worse by adding particulate matter to it or ground level ozone to it, depending on the season. So this contamination affects us in our daily habits. We have to adjust if we see there's high air pollution. We have to consider changing our daily habits to protect ourselves, protect our community and our environment.
NB: We can take clean air for granted. But when air quality is poor, we can often see a haze on the horizon. What is that haze, and how is it contributing to air pollution?
AH: We call it the “brown cloud” [because] you just see a layer of brown. It's not a scientific term, but it's just a visual representation of these atmospheric changes working against good air quality. This is especially true during the fall and winter season, when we have temperature inversion. The [Phoenix] Valley is shaped like a bowl [due to the surrounding mountains]. During cooler months, the surface of the ground cools faster than the air above, so it creates a temperature and pressure difference. This difference in pressure then creates a lid over the valley, or over this metaphorical bowl. Until this temperature inversion breaks, you can see that layer, that “brown cloud” that is trapping all the dirty air near the surface—and it percolates for days and possibly even weeks. We're constantly breathing in this polluted air, because it doesn't have a chance to flow out of the Valley.
NB: It can sometimes feel like air pollution is out of our control, like only policymakers and large industries can make a real impact. What actions can individuals take to improve air quality?
AH: It's our daily habits. For example, during the summer season, we have air pollution caused by ground-level ozone. Its main contributor is vehicle emissions. Gasoline vapors, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds mix with sunlight—and in the desert, we have a whole lot of sunlight and heat during the summer. Those break down and form ground-level ozone.
It may be confusing because many people are aware of the good kind of ozone—that’s the type we don’t see, it’s in the atmosphere and protects us from UV rays. The ozone caused by vehicle emissions, ground-level ozone, is an air contaminant that lingers near the surface, where we can breathe it in. Just like smoke, dust, and other contaminants, it affects our health.
So what we encourage through our campaign Commit to One Day is: Just change your habits one day a week, and it can make a big difference. If you're going to fuel your vehicle, try to fuel it after dark because there's no sunlight for these chemicals to react with and create ground-level ozone. Telework, or if it's possible, carpool. Use public transportation. If you see that there's a long drive-through line to get your morning coffee, and you have a gas-powered vehicle, you may choose to turn off your engine or park it and go inside, instead of having all that idling time where it’s releasing emissions into the air. When picking up children at school, if the weather allows, turn off your engine and wait. You don't want those nitrogen oxides creating ground-level ozone. That can also affect the children waiting to be picked up. Those decisions are easy to make and make a big difference in air quality and improving it.
During the winter season, we have no-burn restrictions where burning firewood is not permitted. That is because [it releases] particulate matter (PM) of 2.5 micrometers, which is equivalent to a single particle of smoke. That smoke can enter our respiratory system and lead to cardiac issues. So by not burning wood, we don't add on to contamination and air pollution. We want people to understand why we have burn restrictions: The final goal is to improve air quality so we can live, play, and enjoy the beautiful Maricopa County that we live in.
NB: What resources exist for people who live in Maricopa County to stay informed about air quality?
AH: They can follow us on social media, at @MaricopaAir. We have information about air quality forecasts and educational videos. We also send out alerts when it's a no-burn day or a high-pollution advisory day. We encourage everyone to look at the air quality forecast—it can be through a website, news stations, the radio stations, or weather apps.
We offer many incentive programs through the Maricopa County Air Quality Department to help residents transition to cleaner alternatives. For example, we have the Mowing Down Pollution program, where you can trade in a functioning gas-powered lawn mower or handheld device and receive a voucher to exchange it for an electric tool. We have our Propane Fire Pit program where you can sign up to receive a $75 voucher to buy a propane fire pit, so you can still enjoy the outdoors, but you're not contributing to PM 2.5 [levels] by burning wood.
We also have our Fireplace Retrofit program. Those who have wood-burning fireplaces and have access to a gas line can sign up and receive up to $2,000 off of retrofitting their fireplace. We also offer education where specialized teachers go to different school districts. They have outreach events to inform children about air quality, what they can do to protect their health, and how to share this message with their parents.
Watch last week’s episode of Horizon to learn more about the State of the Air Report. If you live outside Maricopa County, visit your county’s air quality department website or check out this resource to learn more.
Well-Informed: Related stories from the ASU Media Enterprise archives
In this essay for Transformations, Thomas Belton, an environmental scientist and author, shares the story of his unlikely path from a telephone lineman in the 1970s Newark to a leading voice in environmental health. Read more about his reflections on the connection between human health and the ecosystems that surround us.
Plus: Air pollution may be linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a study discussed by Brittany Krzyzanowski from Barrow Neurological Institute in this segment on Arizona Horizon. Researchers found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter could increase the chances of developing the neurological disorder. While the exact cause of Parkinson’s remains unclear, the study highlights environmental factors as a growing area of concern.
Well-Versed: Learning resources to go deeper
How can we rethink urban transportation to improve air quality? Learn more in Cars in Cities: Challenges and Alternatives: a free, self-paced course that examines how car dependency contributes to air pollution, traffic congestion, and how car dependency shapes our cities and contributes to air pollution. The course highlights successful strategies that cities around the world have adopted to promote public transit, walking, and biking—all aimed at reducing the need for single-occupancy vehicles.
Well-Read: News we’ve found useful this week
“Damage From Gut Bacteria May Play a Role in the Rise in Colon Cancer in Young Adults,” by Will Stone, Apr. 25, 2025, NPR
“Exercise May Lessen Cancer Treatment Side Effects, Including Brain Fog, Fatigue,” by Erika Watts, May 5, 2025, Medical News Today
“Welcome to the world of triple-digit spring weather,” by Umair Irfan, Apr. 24, 2025, VOX
“Shingles Vaccine Lowers Risk of Heart Disease for 8 Years, Study Finds,” by Sara Moniuszko, May 5, 2025, CBS News
Well-Defined: Word of the week
As a chronically ill patient who gets blood work every three months, I routinely read through extensive test results. Many times, when I receive my results through my patient portal, I end up searching online for definitions, semi-concerned when I see something is high or low. Eosinophils were one of these categories I found myself confused by.
Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell, or leukocyte. White blood cells are crucial for our health because they assist our immune system in fighting off infection. You can think of them as the military troops enlisted to keep the body safe from enemies. Eosinophils make up less than 5% of all white blood cells, and they help defend against parasitic infections, bacteria, and allergens. During allergy season, eosinophils are especially supportive, as they have granules that release a toxic protein to destroy foreign invaders, such as pollen or dust.
If you get a lab result with a high eosinophil count, don’t panic—there are several possible explanations. It could be related to seasonal allergies or an infection. Reach out to your health care provider to better understand what may be causing this result.
- Mel Moore, health communication assistant and ASU student
Well-Aware: Setting the record straight on health myths
You go to an appointment with your health care provider. The nurse checks you in, has you step on a scale and measures your height. Have you ever wondered if you could ask not to be weighed? You can.
Going to the doctor can be anxiety inducing. Perhaps you don’t know what will happen, or you feel out of control. But advocating for yourself with your doctor can actually improve your quality of care.
Routine checks such as weigh-ins can be daunting, and even prevent some patients from seeing their providers. But, as a patient, you have the power to say “No, thank you” if you wish. You can also ask why, or to speak to your doctor before you step on the scale.
The truth is, routine weigh-ins can be a barrier to care for people living with disordered eating, and contribute to a mindset that weight is the only factor in one’s health. “When it comes to setting priorities for my patient’s health, I would much rather have them skip stepping on the scale than skip getting the health care they need,” writes Dr. Holly Russell, a physician at the University of Rochester Medical Center—which no longer conducts routine weigh-ins for adult, nonpregnant patients. (The center still conducts weigh-ins on request or if it’s related to why the patient came in, it’s just no longer a staple of every visit.)
Speaking on behalf of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk recently told the New York Times that routine weigh-ins at every appointment are “bad practice” for healthy adults. While she does measure weight at an annual physical, Malchuk told the Times she’s looking for major fluctuations, as they can be indicative of larger health issues.
Self-advocacy is a tool you can employ beyond this specific instance. Some concrete things you can do in your next appointment include:
Make sure your provider fully understands and addresses the symptoms you’re experiencing
Ask questions about the terms your provider uses, the treatments they prescribe, and why they have come to the diagnoses they have
If your provider suggests a certain treatment or test, ask if your insurance will cover it—if not, you can ask if there are any other options that would be covered or are more affordable
So, make a plan, do your research, and ask for clarification. And always remember that you are in charge of your care.
- Mel Moore, health communication assistant and ASU student
Do you have a question or topic you’d like us to tackle? Would you like to share your experience? Reach out at any time—we’d love to hear from you.