Carmen Talks Air

Summer has just begun here in New York, and we've already received several ozone advisories. What does this mean and should you be concerned? In this episode, I want all of us to be informed on what ozone air pollution is and why it seems to show up every summer.  Send us fan mail Support the show Thanks for tuning in, I hope you’ve been finding this information helpful! If so, please share w...

This will be the coolest summer in your lifetime. Read that again. If current climate trends continue, nearly every summer after this one is expected to be hotter. Extreme heat isn't just uncomfortable. It affects our health, air quality, infrastructure, energy systems, and the communities least able to adapt. We know that temperatures are changing. The question is how do we prepare and suppo...

SOURCES: Björnham, O., Grahn, H., von Schoenberg, P., Waleij, A., Liljedahl, B., & Brännström, N. (2017, November 7). The 2016 Al-Mishraq Sulphur Plant Fire: Source and Risk Area Estimation. arXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/1611.03837 Brown, V. J. (2004, December). Battle Scars: Global Conflicts and Environmental Health. National Library of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12...

Where were you the day the sky turned orange? If you were in New York City on the afternoon of June 7th, I’m sure you remember how strange and eerie that whole experience was. On this episode, we reflect on the June 2023 wildfire smoke event in New York City. Send us fan mail Support the show Thanks for tuning in, I hope you’ve been finding this information helpful! If so, please share with a frie...

So tiny you can't see it, particulate matter is the most harmful air pollutant on our planet. Much smaller than a grain of sand, and capable of causing short and long-term harm, particulate matter is usually the cause for most air quality advisories/warnings. In this episode, we explore what particulate matter is, where it comes from, and what you can do to protect yourself from it. Send us f...

It’s easy to think about air as invisible and inconsequential, simply because its always there, but it’s anything but. Every single time you take a breath, you’re taking in much more than just oxygen—you’re inhaling a mix of particles, gases, and pollutants that can affect your health in ways you may not even realize. So, what exactly is happening inside your body when the air quality dips? And ho...

Welcome to episode 8! We’re diving into the basics of air purification, offering you practical, science-backed information on how to make the air you breathe cleaner, whether you’re on a tight budget or ready to invest in advanced solutions. I’ll be discussing air purifiers, DIY solutions, and things in between—because clean air should be accessible to everyone. Send us fan mail Support the show T...

Welcome to part two of the history of air pollution and air quality efforts. The history of air pollution is a history of our response to crisis. Although air quality laws have saved countless lives, air pollution levels in many cities still exceed safe limits. On a global level, over 90% of the population breathes polluted air on a daily basis, with Black, Brown, and poor folks being disproportio...

Imagine stepping out of a time machine into the middle of ancient Rome. What you'd immediately experience is air pollution. We think of air pollution as a modern problem, but it's been shaping human history for thousands of years. In this episode, we’re diving into the history of air pollution and air quality efforts, going far back enough to before we even had a word for it. Send us fan...

Urban air quality is shaped by traffic, industry, buildings, gentrification, and even the different way cities are designed. But here’s the big question: What is this daily pollution doing to our health?  Send us fan mail Support the show Thanks for tuning in, I hope you’ve been finding this information helpful! If so, please share with a friend!  Have a question or comment? E-mail us at CarmenTal...

Considering that we spend 90% of our time indoors, the quality of that air matters! On this episode, we explore what contributes to indoor air pollution, how it affects your health, and what you can do about it. Send us fan mail Support the show Thanks for tuning in, I hope you’ve been finding this information helpful! If so, please share with a friend!  Have a question or comment? E-mail us at Ca...

The AQI, or Air Quality Index, is a simple way to communicate how clean or polluted the air is, using numbers and colors that anyone can understand. But what does it all mean, and how does that affect you? In this episode, we decode the AQI and help you make sense of what that means for you and your family. Send us fan mail Support the show Thanks for tuning in, I hope you’ve been finding this inf...

Welcome to the introductory episode of Inhale, Exhale: An Air Quality Podcast!  Breathing. It’s one of the most basic things we require to stay alive, and yet, we rarely stop to consider what’s actually in the air we're taking in. Check out this first episode as we dive into the basics of air quality, how it affects you, and why you should care. Send us fan mail Support the show Thanks for tu...

What if I told you that with each breath, you’re inhaling much more than just the air you need to survive? Tiny, invisible particles, chemicals, and gases enter your lungs every time you breathe. Some are harmless. Some are not. On this episode, we explore what's supposed to be in the air we breathe, what's actually in it, and how it affects you. Send us fan mail Support the show Thanks...