by Shane Henson — May 7, 2012—Although the United States’ most polluted cities have a long way to go to reach standards environmentalists and doctors alike would consider safe, many residents were able to breathe much easier this year thanks to measures undertaken to meet goals set by the Clean Air Act, according to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2012 report.
The Lung Association’s annual air quality report grades cities and counties based, in part, on the color-coded Air Quality Index developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to alert the public to daily unhealthy air conditions. The 13th annual report uses the most recent, quality-controlled EPA data collected from 2008 through 2010 from official monitors for ozone and particle pollution—the two most widespread types of air pollution. Counties are graded for ozone, year-round particle pollution, and short-term particle pollution levels. The report also uses EPA’s calculations for year-round particle levels. According to the Lung Association’s research, air quality in America’s most polluted cities was at its cleanest since the organization’s annual report began 13 years ago.
As noted in the report, major improvements were seen in 18 of the 25 cities most polluted by ozone, including Los Angeles, which had the lowest smog levels since the report was first published in 2000. Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were among 17 of the 25 cities most polluted by annual particle pollution that experienced their cleanest years yet. Four cities—Pittsburgh, San Diego, Philadelphia and Visalia, California—had their lowest-ever short-term particle pollution level. For the first time, Birmingham, Alabama; Detroit, Michigan; and York, Pennsylvania dropped completely off the report’s 25 most-polluted cities lists. However, the report’s authors note that despite this progress, unhealthy levels of air pollution still exist and in some parts of the country have worsened.
According to the report, nearly four out of 10 people in the U.S. live in counties that received an “F” for air quality because of unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution, which can cause health problems that day, and even days after. When inhaled, ozone irritates the lungs like a bad sunburn, and can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and can shorten life, says the Lung Association.
The report also finds that nearly 50 million Americans live in counties with too many unhealthy spikes in particle pollution levels, and nearly six million people live in areas with unhealthy year-round levels of particle pollution. Particle pollution is the most dangerous and deadly widespread air pollutant in America, notes the association. This noxious mix of microscopic bits of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols can lead to early death, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits. However, only eight counties received a failing grade for year-round particle pollution, further evidence of the continuing improvement even since last year’s report.
According to the American Lung Association’s report, many of the nation’s most polluted cities—most within California—are steadily improving their air quality.
10 Most Ozone-Polluted Cities:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, California
- Visalia-Porterville, California
- Bakersfield-Delano, California
- Fresno-Madera, California
- Hanford-Corcoran, California
- Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City, Calif.—Nevada
- San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, California
- Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, Texas
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, California
- Merced, California
