It's seven weeks into smog season, and Atlanta's smog alerts are becoming disturbingly frequent.

Since smog season began, the metro area has already seen more than 15 days of smog violations for ozone and particle pollution. With the Beijing Olympics and the Peachtree Road Race approaching, public awareness is growing about the risks of outdoor exercise when air pollution is high.

John Spink/jspink@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Air pollution's an unfortunate fact of life in Atlanta. Kids need to get outside and play, but parents and caregivers should be clued in to smog alerts and pollution levels that could mean trouble for young lungs.

(ENLARGE)

Rebecca Watts Hull is program manager for Mothers & Others for Clean Air and the Georgia Conservancy.

What many people may not realize is that it is just as important to consider the little athletes running underfoot, breathing hard outside all summer long. Is your child's nanny, day care center or summer camp provider paying attention to smog alerts? Do they receive smog alerts via e-mail and, if so, do they respond appropriately?

Long term, the solution to Atlanta's unhealthy smog season is reducing the biggest sources of ozone and particle pollution through a comprehensive public transportation system, coordinated land use and transportation planning, and clean energy solutions. Short term, while we continue to live with smoggy summer days, it is critical that those who care for children arm themselves with knowledge to help kids avoid the worst of the pollution.

During the summer, children are encouraged to "go play outside!" And with childhood obesity levels in Georgia at epidemic levels, outdoor activity is clearly important. But because of the metro area's smog, it is important to consider air pollution levels when planning outdoor activities for kids.

Children are part of the group called "sensitive" to air pollution because their lungs are still developing, they take in more air in relation to their body weight and they tend to be very active outdoors. Along with adults who suffer from respiratory or cardiac diseases and the elderly, children are more vulnerable to the negative health effects of air pollution. Caregivers should monitor pollution levels and consider the risks before sending them outdoors on smog alert days.

Currently, there are no requirements that schools or other institutions that care for children adjust outdoor activity when air pollution is high, although some schools systems, including DeKalb and Gwinnett, have taken steps to protect students on smog alert days. Closely following ozone and particle pollution levels through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division can allow schools, parents and day care and summer camp staff to adjust children's activities to avoid the worst of Atlanta's ozone and fine particle pollution.

To receive e-mail smog alerts for metro Atlanta, go to www.cleanaircampaign

.com/tools/sign_up_form. If you live in another part of Georgia, you may subscribe to smog alerts through Enviroflash at www.enviroflash.info/?home=1. An alternative to e-mail alerts is to contact Georgia EPD's Air Quality Hotline at 404-362-4909. These services forecast the types of pollutants that are likely to be high the following day.

The smog alerts by phone or e-mail indicate whether ozone, fine particulates or both are at unhealthy levels. These pollutants behave differently. Ozone levels are highest from 2 to 7 p.m., so plan outdoor activities for the morning or late evening. For particle pollution, the concentrations may be high all day, so if this is the primary pollutant or if both ozone and particle pollution levels are high, it is best to provide an indoor play space for children.

For more detailed information, download a comprehensive health advisory document by clicking here.

By paying attention to the alerts and the kind of pollutant that is high and by adjusting activities accordingly, it is still possible to help children get plenty of exercise while avoiding air pollution that poses serious risks to their health.

Schools, day care centers, summer camps, parents and other caregivers should consider receiving smog alerts and checking pollution levels an important part of helping kids stay healthy through Atlanta's smoggy summers.