Nearly Half of Americans Live With Harmful Levels of Air Pollution
Nearly half of the US population lives in areas that have harmful levels of air pollution, but that number is lower compared to recent past.
A new report titled 'State of Air 2015' by the American Lung Association showed that 4 in 10 Americans live in areas with high levels of air pollution, mainly particulate and ozone pollution. Only six cities were recognized as the cleanest on all three counts of measure including 24-hour particulate pollution or ozone levels and year-round particulate pollution levels. Bismarck, ND, Cape Coral-Fort Myers-Naples, FL, Elmira-Corning, NY, Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN, Rapid City-Spearfish, SD and Salinas, CA were on the list.
The report also identified that climate change was worsening air pollution levels.
"Warmer weather increases the risk of ozone pollution and makes cleaning it up even more challenging. Rising temperatures also increase droughts, wildfires and other sources of particle pollution. While our report shows steady improvement since our first "State of the Air" 16 years ago, it also shows evidence that the changing climate will make it harder to keep up this trend and protect human health," the association noted in a press release.
The association also mentioned that Los Angeles was recognized as worst polluted metropolitan area in all but one of the 16 State of Air reports.
To improve air quality, the study suggested strengthening of outdated ozone standards, a clean power plan to reduce carbon emissions and improved enforcement of Clean Air act.
