Sunday, May 02, 2010
Los Angeles
More than half of the United States population breathes air filled with dangerous pollution, according to a new study produced by the American Lung Association. The report (State of the Air 2010) states that more than 175 million Americans (approximately 58% of the country) live in areas where ozone or particle pollution exceeds healthy levels.
The five worst urban areas for ozone are all in California: 1) Los Angeles, Long Beach and Riverside; 2) Bakersfield; 3) Visalia and Porterville; 4) Fresno and Madera; and 5) Sacramento, Arden, Arcade and Yuba City.
Three of these California urban centers—Bakersfield, Los Angeles and Visalia—also ranked among the five worst for year-round particle pollution, sandwiched by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona (No. 1) and Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pennsylvania (No. 5).
-Noel Brinkerhoff
State of the Air 2010 (American Lung Association) (pdf)
Most Polluted Cities (American Lung Association)
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