National Report Shows Improves Air Quality in Georgia
Atlanta, GA (April 28, 2010)—
The American Lung Association released its 11th annual State of the Air 2010 report today, a national air quality report card that ranks cities and counties most affected by widespread ozone and particle pollution.
Georgia mirrored national trends in the State of the Air 2010 report in that the air quality in many places has improved, mainly in year-round particle pollution. However, more than 175 million people—roughly 58 percent—are still exposed to unhealthy pollution levels. Unhealthy air affects some people more than others, such as individuals with lung or cardiovascular disease, seniors, children and people living in poverty."Georgia's grades in the State of the Air 2010 report, while still at unhealthy levels in some areas, show improvement from previous years, and demonstrate that efforts to clean our air do work" said June Deen, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association in Georgia. "The American Lung Association continues to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to insure air quality standards for healthy air and encourage Congress to pass amendments that have the power to improve air quality in our state and across the country."
The American Lung Association's State of the Air 2010 report finds that a decade of cleanup measures to reductions in emissions from coal-fired powered plants and the transition to cleaner diesel fuels and engines have paid off in cutting levels of deadly particle and ozone pollution, especially in eastern and Midwestern U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, New York City, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Washington, DC/Baltimore, MD.
According to the State of the Air 2010 report:
- Although still on the list for worst year-round particle pollution, Atlanta and Macon metropolitan areas report their lowest year-round particle levels
- The Atlanta metropolitan area had better ozone levels in the 2010 report than in the 2009 report.
- Richmond County improved year-round particle pollution levels in the 2010 report and received a passing grade. The county received an "F" for ozone pollution and "C" in short-term particle pollution
- Muscogee County improved year-round particle pollution levels in the 2010 report and received a passing grade. The county received an "F" for ozone pollution and "D" in short-term particle pollution
- Chatham County received a "B" in ozone pollution, a "C" in short-term particle pollution, and a passing grade for annual particle pollution
The State of the Air 2010 report includes a national air quality "report card" that assigns grades to counties across the country and ranks cities and counties most affected by the three most widespread types of pollution (ozone, annual particle pollution and 24-hour particle pollution levels). The report also details trends for the 25 most polluted cities. Grades for the 1,000 counties with air pollution monitors can be found by typing in a zip code at www.stateoftheair.org.
Sources of hazardous air pollutants range from school bus emissions to dirty power plants. Ocean-going vessels will soon become a leading source of air pollution in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently considering tighter limits on ozone. Those limits, called national ambient air quality standards, drive the work that communities around the nation do to clean up ozone and other pollutants. The Lung Association has called on the EPA to set standards that provide much greater protection for public health. The Lung Association also urges Congress to clean up coal-fired power plants by passing the Clean Air Act amendments of 2010 and challenges individuals to take personal responsibility to improve the air they breathe.
"Air pollution remains a serious threat to our nation's health," said Deen. "We can all do more for healthy air. Driving less, not burning wood or trash and using less electricity are all steps we can take to improve the air we breathe."
Visit www.lung.org to learn how you can help reduce air pollution. Make a difference by supporting the American Lung Association in your community and get involved by urging Congress and Administration officials to take action. Sign up to protect our air by joining the American Lung Association in Georgia's Lung Action Network at www.lungaction.org .
Editors' Note: Multimedia toolkit including broadcast quality b-roll, photographs and sound bites available at: http://www.lung.org/press-room/state-of-the-air-media-center/ . Local city and county grades available at www.stateoftheair.org.
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About the American Lung Association in Georgia Now in its second century, the American Lung Association in Georgia is the leading organization in the state working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association in Georgia, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lungGA.org.
