New American Lung Association Report Finds 60 Percent of Americans Live in Areas Where Air is Dirty Enough to Endanger Lives
Posted on: Wednesday, 29 April 2009, 02:00 CDT
- 10th Annual State of the Air Report Publishes Local Air Quality Grades Online -
State of the Air 2009 acknowledges substantial progress against air pollution in many areas of the country, but finds nearly every major city still burdened by air pollution. Despite America's growing "green" movement, the air in many cities became dirtier. The State of the Air report, found at www.stateoftheair.org, includes a national air quality "report card" that assigns A-F grades to communities across the country. The report also ranks cities and counties most affected by the three most widespread types of pollution (ozone--or smog, annual particle pollution, and 24-hour particle pollution levels) and details trends for 900 counties over the past decade.
"This should be a wakeup call. We know that air pollution is a major threat to human health," said Stephen J. Nolan, American Lung Association National Board Chair. "When 60 percent of Americans are left breathing air dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, to shape how kids' lungs develop, and to kill, air pollution remains a serious problem."
The report finds that air pollution hovers at unhealthy levels in almost every major city, threatening people's ability to breathe and placing lives at risk. Some of the biggest sources of air pollution, including dirty power plants, dirty diesel engines and ocean-going vessels, also worsen global warming.
"The more we learn, the more urgent it becomes for us to take decisive action to make our air healthier," added Nolan.
Many cities, like
Ozone
(Click here for b-roll that illustrates how ozone pollution affects the lungs.)
Sixteen cities making this year's 25 most ozone-polluted list experienced worsened ozone (smog) problems than last year's report found. Fifty-eight percent of people in
Ozone is the most widespread form of air pollution. When inhaled, ozone irritates the lungs, resulting in something like a bad sunburn. The health effects of breathing ozone pollution can be immediate. Ozone can cause wheezing, coughing and asthma attacks. Breathing ozone pollution can even shorten lives.
"More than 175 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy smog levels--that's 80 million more than we identified in last year's report," explained Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO. "We at the American Lung Association believe that the new ozone standard is not yet strong enough to protect human health--an opinion nearly all scientific experts share."
Particle Pollution
(Click here for b-roll that illustrates how particle pollution affects the lungs.)
State of the Air grades counties for both 24-hour and year-round particle pollution levels. Particle pollution is a toxic mix of microscopic soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols. It is the most dangerous and deadly of the outdoor air pollutants that are widespread in America. Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of early death, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits for asthma and cardiovascular disease.
One in six people in
Roughly 3 in 10 Americans live in counties with unhealthful spikes of particle pollution which can last from hours to days (termed 24-hour levels). Thirteen cities had more days--or more severe days--of spikes than in last year's report. Eleven cities have improved continually since the 2007 report.
Emerging research has redefined the severity and immediate health impacts of particle pollution and ozone, as well as an expanded definition of specific groups at great risk. New data show that women in their 50's may be particularly threatened by air pollution and that diesel truck drivers and dockworkers who are forced to breathe exhaust on the job may face a greater risk of developing lung cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
"The science is rock-solid. We now know that air pollution can impair the lung function of even the healthiest people," said Norman H. Edelman, MD, American Lung Association Chief Medical Officer. "Air pollution worsens asthma and is a direct cause of heart attacks, which makes people living with lung and heart disease especially vulnerable."
Low income people and some racial and ethnic groups often face greater risk from pollutants. Pollution sources like factories and power plants may be closer to their homes. Many live near areas with heavy highway traffic or have poor access to health care, which makes them even more vulnerable. Some racial and ethnic groups have a higher prevalence of diseases like asthma or diabetes, which compounds the ill effects of air pollution for these groups.
"We need to renew our commitment to providing healthy air for all our citizens--a commitment
As America faces the challenges of air pollution, global warming and energy, the American Lung Association urges Congress, the EPA and individuals to choose solutions that help solve all three challenges together. Some steps that sound like good solutions for one problem can make air pollution worse.
Americans can make personal changes to improve air quality immediately and ultimately impact climate change as well: drive less; don't burn wood or trash; use less electricity; and make sure local school systems require clean school buses.
NATION'S CLEANEST CITIES
Cleanest U.S. Cities for Short-term Particle Pollution (24 Hour PM2.5)
*Cities below had equal scores.
10 Cleanest U.S. Cities for Long-term Particle Pollution (Annual PM2.5)
*Cities listed in rank order. Duplicate position numbers indicate ties.
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Cleanest U.S. Cities for Ozone Air Pollution
*Cities below had equal scores.
Coeur D'Alene,
Nation's Most Polluted Cities
10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Short-term Particle Pollution (24 Hour PM2.5)
*Cities listed in rank order. Duplicate position numbers indicate ties.
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10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution (Annual PM2.5)
*Cities listed in rank order.
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10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Ozone
*Cities listed in rank order.
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Visit www.lungusa.org to search local air quality grades by zip code and to send messages to Congress and the Obama Administration to urge action to protect the air we breathe.
About the American Lung Association: Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity and holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungusa.org.
SOURCE American Lung Association
Source: PR Newswire
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