The American Lung Association recently released their 'State of the Air 2011' report which rates ozone pollution, short-term particle pollution, and year-long particle pollution in the states and their individual counties, and highlights the areas with the worst air quality.
What does polluted air mean for the people living in the worst rated areas? Ozone and particle pollution are widespread, dangerous and contribute to many health problems and deaths.
The ALA's studies found that people living in areas with high ozone pollution, especially in areas with high unemployment or high public transit use, have a higher risk of premature death. They also found that living near busy highways can contribute to and even worsen chronic diseases.
Huffington Post created a slideshow showcasing the SOTA report's "10 Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution" list, along with their population's health statistics. Luckily, no cities in the Tampa Bay area made the list, though Hillsborough county received an overall grade of 'F' on the study's report card for having a high amount of ozone pollution days, and both Pinellas and Hillsborough scored a 'C' on the particle pollution level chart.
See the SOTA '11 report here and Huffington Post's slideshow here.
Information via theAmerican Lung Association and Huffington Post Green; image via: Freewebs.com
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2011.