Over 147 million, or almost half of the American population, reside in counties said to have unhealthy levels of either particle or ozone pollution, while over 27.8 million people in the U.S. reside in 17 countries identified to have unhealthy levels of all pollutants. The data came from the State of the Air 2014 report of the American Lung Association released April 30.
As opposed to the 2013 report, 22 of the 25 most ozone-polluted cities in the current report showed to have more high ozone days on the average, such as Chicago, New York City, Phoenix, Houston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Washington-Baltimore and Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, 13 of the 25 cities having the worst year-round particle pollution achieved their lowest levels, such as Bakersfield, Pittsburg, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Many other major cities also achieved their lowest annual levels such as Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
In 14 out of 15 State of Air reports, Los Angeles continues to hold the title among metropolitan areas with the worst ozone pollution. Having the most polluted air for particle pollution is Fresno-Madera, California.
The cleanest cities with no days of unhealthy levels of particle or ozone pollution as well as for being among the 25 cities with lowest year-round particle levels are Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL; Bangor, Maine; Salinas, Calif.; Bismarck, ND.
"We are happy to report continued reduction of year-round particle pollution across the nation," Harold Wimmer, CEO and national president of the American Lung Association, says in a statement.
The latest report indicates that several areas sustained considerable improvements in minimizing year-round particle pollution, thanks to the transition of the public to using cleaner diesel engines and cleaning up of coal-fired power plants, particularly in the eastern U.S. There was also progress this year in terms of the reduction of short-term spikes in particle pollution, with cities such as San Diego, Salt Lake City and Pittsburg with fewer unhealthy days.
The report, however, shows that there is still poor air quality in the country, in spite of the continued effort to minimize particle pollution that is found to cause lung cancer. Add to that the ever-changing climate that also threatens human health.
"... We know that warmer temperatures increase risk for ozone pollution, so climate change sets the stage for tougher challenges to protect human health," Wimmer says, noting that the results were just partial victory.
Notably alarming in the report is the ozone levels were said to be much worse than in last year's report. Ozone pollutant is a strong respiratory irritant and most prevalent air pollutant in the country, yet it is one of the most difficult to minimize.
Report says that with dangerous levels of ozone or particle pollution, the public is susceptible to coughing, wheezing, heart attacks, asthma attacks and even premature deaths. At greater danger are babies, children, older people, people already suffering from lung problems such as asthma, or heart disease or diabetes, low-income earning people and people who exercises or work outdoors.
"We must meet these challenges head on to protect the health of millions of Americans living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All of us -everyone in every family-have the right to healthy air."
