 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
SAMPLE TRIGGER DETECTION DIARY
Name: Adrien Bledstein Year: 1998-99
For Pollutant Standards Index (PSI*): See local phone book for EPA reporting station. See local paper or click on Pollen/Spore Counts: http://www.aaaai.org/nab/pollen.htm
For a few days, fill in what you can to become aware of what may be affecting you. For example, in Chicago, at noon, on a hot, humid day with wind direction SE, a mixture of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, ozone, and mold at a good to moderate level could combine to sap energy and trigger an allergic or asthmatic episode.
| Date | 05/15/98 | 5/19/98 | 3/29/99 | 3/31/99 | 4/1/99 | 7/8/99 |
| PSI/Place | 69 O3 | 69 O3 | 44 O3 | 55 SO2 | 69 O3 | |
| Chicago | ||||||
| Time | 5 p.m. | 4 p.m. | 7:30 a.m | 7 a.m. | 7 a.m. | |
| Temperature | 82 F | 84 | 50 | 50 | 54 | |
| Heat index | 83 | |||||
| Wind chill | ||||||
| Humidity | 43% | 53 | 43% | 39% | 93% | |
| Wind direction | S 16 | NNE | SW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 7 | |
| Barometric pressure | 29 Fall | 30+Rise | 30Steady | 29.83R |
| Trees | High | High | ||||
| Grasses | High | High | ||||
| Weeds | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Molds | Low | Low | High |
Check or circle all recurring indoor factors: pesticides, disinfectants, chlorine, dust, dander, mold, perfume, gas range, computer, fax, copier, stale air, second hand smoke, carpeting, roaches, news print, formaldehyde, fresh paint, musk, latex, other:
Check or circle all recurring local outdoor conditions: construction, road repair, fire, barbecue, industry, expressway, airport, hot asphalt, dry cleaner, laundromat, hospital, gas station, other:
Check or circle all symptoms such as: coughing, sneezing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, smarting eyes, heartburn, acid reflux, clogged ears, ear ache, clogged nose, blurred vision, chills, fatigue, indecision, disorientation, headache, insomnia, anxiety, groggy, other:
On back of paper, note date and describe time, circumstances (inside or outside, sedentary or exercising), and what you did to alleviate your symptoms: e.g. removed self from situation, put on a mask (what kind), took medication (be specific). 5/15/98 Awakened in night, coughing. Carbon filter alleviated. 5/19/98 tired inside apt., with carbon filter better breathing, energetic. 3/29/99 From 4:30-6:30 a.m., wearing silk mask at computer, dog at feet. Focused, doing research, 2 hours felt like ten minutes. 7:30 a.m., dog walk, no mask outside, brisk west wind, clear air, until underpass to Promontory Point. Fresh paint in tunnel, exhaust fumes from Lake Shore Drive rush hour. Lungs restricted. Carbon mask relieved. Brisk 1/2 hour walk. 3/31/99 Groggy, indecisive. With carbon mask no symptoms, energetic walk and able to concentrate, creative from 8 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. 4 p.m. news: 6 fires SW of here within 1 to 2 miles. No wonder I needed a carbon mask! 4/1/99 Tried sleeping in silk mask, not carbon. Burning sensation in chest. Put on carbon, in 15 minutes ok, slept. Creative with carbon on, 4 to 7a.m. Carbon mask for brisk walk, eyes smarting around edges. High humidity and SO2, wind from southwest where fires were yesterday. 7/9/99 Mold in morning, silk mask. Ozone burning lungs in afternoon, relieved by carbon mask.
*In many locations the PSI reports only the highest pollutant. To keep track, indicate the number and critical pollutant for each region which may affect you: Ozone (O3); Particulate Matter (PM); Sulfur Dioxide (SO2); Carbon Monoxide (CO); Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2). Combined pollutants and high humidity may cause eyes to smart and may irritate nasal passages and lungs at "good" and "moderate" levels.
Free access material, developed April 1996, revised August 22, 1998. Prepared by Adrien J. Bledstein, courtesy of I Can Breathe! Air Filter Masks. Questions or comments, call 888-313-0123.
This summary was prepared by Adrien J. Bledstein.
Last update 02/21/08 I Can Breathe! Inc.