Most US cities with high soot and ozone pollution have improved the quality of their air, according to a new report, State of the Air 2011 by the American Lung Association. These improvements are in response to the Clean Air Act, the authors say. Despite the improvements in pollution levels, the Association says some Congress members are trying to water down the Clean Air Act.

Approximately 154.5 million Americans today live in areas where ozone and particle (soot) pollution levels are dangerous to breathe in.

Ozone produces smog, particle pollution refers to soot.

The Clean Air Act is working, the authors stress. All of the 25 most polluted metropolitan areas have seen improvements in ozone levels since the last report – 15 of them say this is the best year for air quality so far. 23 of the 25 experienced improved year-round particle pollution since the last report. Unfortunately, only 11 metropolitan areas among those most polluted by short-term increases in soot pollution had improvements.

Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO, said:

“‘State of the Air’ tells us that the progress the nation has made cleaning up coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions and other pollution sources has drastically cut dangerous pollution from the air we breathe. We owe our cleaner air to the Clean Air Act. We have proof that cleaning up pollution results in healthier air to breathe. That’s why we cannot stop now. Half of our nation is still breathing dangerously polluted air. Everyone must be protected from air pollution.”

The report grades counties and cities partly according to the color-coded Air Quality Index created by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), devised to inform the public about unhealthy air conditions.

The Lung Association says its report utilizes latest data from the EPA collected from 2007 through to the end of 2009 from official ozone and particle pollution monitors – the two most common kinds of air pollution. Counties are graded for ozone, all-year particle pollution and short-term particle pollution levels. EPA’s calculations were also used in the report for year-round particle levels.

The cleanest cities in the USA are:

  • Honolulu, Hawaii
  • Santa Fe Espanola, New Mexico

    • Neither city reached unhealthy ranges in ozone and daily particle pollution levels at any time during a 12-month period.

19.8% of Americans (60 million) live in counties where unhealthy spikes in particle pollution levels occurred “too often”. The authors explain that particle levels can peak dangerously from hours to weeks (short-term) or stay at unhealthily high levels year-round (every day).

Norman H. Edelman, M.D., American Lung Association Chief Medical Officer, said:

“Particle pollution kills. When you breathe these microscopic particles, you are inhaling a noxious mix of chemicals, metals, acid aerosols, ash and soot that is emitted from smokestacks, tailpipes, and other sources. It is as toxic as it sounds and can lead to early death, asthma exacerbations, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits in substantial numbers. Science clearly has proven that we need to protect the health of the public from the dangers of particle pollution.”

10 counties got an “F” for year-round particle pollution – something the authors consider as good news and an example of progress made because of the Clean Air Act.

Bakersfield, California is the most polluted city by short-term and annual particle pollution. Only two cities’ year-round particle levels got worse since the previous report – Bakersfield and Hanford, both in California.

48.2% of Americans live in counties with an “F” grade for smog. Smog (ozone) is the most pervasive air pollutant – caused by sunlight reacting to emissions from vehicles, power stations and other sources. Inhaled ozone irritates the lungs, and can result in health problems that may persist for days. Ozone inhalation can cause asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing, general breathing difficulties, and even death.

The metropolitan area with the worst ozone problem is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside. However, the authors add that things have got better there.

Despite widespread public support for the Clean Air Act, some members of Congress want it either weakened or its enforcement blocked; some even want to see funding and legal authority taken away from the EPA. This would seriously damage the cleanup that still has to be done, including the cleanup of power plants, something the EPA has proposed and is long overdue.

There are 440 coal-fired power plants in 46 US states – they contribute enormously to ozone and particle pollution in the country. They also emit arsenic, dioxins, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, mercury and dioxins which spread for thousands of miles. As this type of pollution crosses state lines, the EPA would be the only body with the authority to protect citizens in various states.

According to an American Lung Association’s bipartisan poll in February 2011, the vast majority of Americans support tougher air quality standards and oppose the actions of politicians to undermine the effort.

Connor said:

“Some in Congress are working to weaken the Clean Air Act and care more about protecting the interests of industry polluters than the health of Americans.”

Ten Worst Ozone-Polluted Cities:

  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif.
  • Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
  • Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
  • Fresno-Madera, Calif.
  • Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City, Calif.-Nev.
  • Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.
  • San Diego-Carlsbad-San arcos, Calif.
  • Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, Texas.
  • Merced, Calif.
  • Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury, N.C.-S.C.

10 Cities Most Polluted by Short-term Particle Pollution

  • Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
  • Fresno-Madera, Calif.
  • Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa.
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif.
  • Salt Lake City-Ogden-Clearfield, Utah
  • Provo-Orem, Utah
  • Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
  • Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, Ala.
  • Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.
  • Logan, Utah-Idaho
  • Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City, Calif.-Nev.

10 Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution

  • Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif.
  • Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz.
  • Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
  • Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.
  • Fresno-Madera, Calif.
  • Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa.
  • Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, Ala.
  • Cincinnati-Middletown-Wilmington, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
  • Louisville-Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, Ky.-Ind.
  • Modesto, Calif.

“State of the Air – 2011 Report” (PDF)
American Lung Association

Written by Christian Nordqvist