American Air Pollution Levels Continue to Rise
Environmental Concern due to Ozone and Particulate Matter Pollution
May 13, 2009
Although not an environmental organization as such, the American Lung Association has issued an air pollution report for the last 10 years. State of the Air 2009 is their tenth such issue and it deals with American air pollution levels over the years 2005 to 2007. It covers three different air pollutants that affect the American environment; ozone levels, short term particulate matter pollution (over 24 hrs) and long term (yearly) particulate matter pollution. Taken in conjunction with previous reports, the figures show that while air pollution, especially ozone levels have improved in such areas as Los Angeles and Houston, overall the picture is that of an general decline in the environmental air pollution for much of America.
Rising Ozone Levels
Ozone, an environmental pollutant, is a major ingredient of smog.
- According to “Estimating Mortality Risk Reduction and Economic Benefits from Controlling Ozone Air Pollution”, published by the National Academy of Sciences in 2008, "Because human exposure to ozone in the lower atmosphere at the increased concentrations that result from precursor emissions can cause respiratory problems and other health effects, ozone is one of the six criteria pollutants regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act.”
- Figures from State of the Air 2009 show that the number of Americans exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone rose from less than 95 million in the 2008 report to over 175 million now.
- The report notes that while some of the most ozone polluted cities, such as Los Angeles and Houston have actually improved their levels, the majority (16) of the 25 most polluted cities experienced much worse ozone levels since last year, including cities such as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Cincinnati
Short-Term Particulate Pollution
Short-term particulate pollution is defined as spikes in the particulate matter present in the air from traffic, industry and combustion activities. These spikes can go from several hours to a few days and have a damaging effect on the environment and the air that people breathe.
- According to the American Lung Association, over 90 million Americans, or 3 out of every 10 people live in over 130 counties that experienced unacceptable levels of short-term particulate pollution. Again, this is an increase over the previous report.
- Pittsburgh, PN, Bakersfield, CA and Los Angeles, CA top the list of the 25 U.S. cities most affected by short-term particulate pollution.
- Not all short-term particulate matter is caused by human activity. Smoke from wildfires can cause an increase in particulate matter pollution which may explain why California has 10 of the 25 most affected areas.
Year-Round Particulate Matter Pollution
- Long-term particulate matter pollution poses a difficult environmental problem in that even low levels of pollution, over a long period of time, can be dangerous to the health of citizens with asthma, lung diseases and cardiovascular problems.
- In its section on long-term pollution, State of the Air 2009 claims, “Just over 47 million U.S. residents live in areas where chronic levels are regularly a threat to their health. Even when levels are fairly low, exposure to particles over time can increase risk of hospitalization for asthma, damage to the lungs and, significantly, increase the risk of premature death.”
- The annual average level of particulate matter pollution worsened in 12 of the 25 most affected cities with Bakersfield, CA and Pittsburgh, PA topping the table.
Dealing with Rising Levels of Air Pollution
State of the Air 2009 can be downloaded from the American Lung Association website and should be of interest to anyone interested in the continuing increase in air pollution. Besides recording the levels of pollution throughout the United States, it has a useful section detailing what citizens can do, at a personal, communal and political level to improve the quality of the air in their locality, region or city.
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