State Of The Air Report

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 19 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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The American Lung Association released its State of the Air: 2009 Report this month. The 10th annual report states that air pollution has significantly improved in some areas of the country, but major cities still have significant problems with pollutants.

In urban areas, ozone gas is one of the biggest causes of air pollution. While the ozone layer in the Earth's upper atmosphere helps defend against the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays, ground-level ozone (called ozone pollution) can have harmful effects on human health and the environment. Ozone pollution occurs when sunlight combines with nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons, which are produced by vehicles and factories.

In March 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted stricter standards for ozone pollution. Based on these new standards, about 58 percent of Americans, or 175.4 million people, live in counties with unhealthy levels of ozone pollution.

Some major cities, such as Los Angeles and Houston, reported improvements in ozone pollution. However, 16 of the 25 most polluted cities (including Charlotte, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Cincinnati) experienced a worsening in pollution over the last year.

Particle pollution is also a health threat to many Americans. Particulate matter air pollutants are a mixture of very small particles and liquid droplets that occur in many shapes and sizes. Although nine of the most polluted cities reported decreases in their average annual particle pollution, 12 cities reported increases. About 47 million U.S. residents live in areas with unhealthy levels of particle pollution. Over time, exposure to these particles may increase the risk of asthma, lung damage and premature death.

The American Lung Association also provided suggestions for reducing indoor and outdoor air pollution. The organization encourages individuals to drive less, use less electricity, burn less wood or trash and support state and local efforts to reduce air pollution.

References

1. American Lung Association: Fighting for Air. http://www.stateoftheair.org
2. Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com. Copyright © 2009.

Source
Natural Standard

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