EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The American Lung Association State of the Air: 2003 includes data from 1999-2001. This represents the most recent available complete ozone monitoring data that has been fully reviewed by the EPA for quality assurance at the time this report was prepared.
|
At levels commonly found in the air in many American cities during summer months, ozone can damage the lungs and airways, causing them to become inflamed, reddened and swollen. This response can cause coughing, burning sensations and shortness of breath. Ozone increases the risk of asthma attacks in people with asthma.
The American Lung Association State of the Air: 2003 finds that many millions of Americans continue to breathe unhealthy amounts of ozone: |
 |
-
Nearly half of the US population—137,206,767 (49%)—lives in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone despite modest improvements in air quality
monitored between 1999-2001.
- Over 1.5 million Americans with emphysema live in counties that received an F rating in ozone air pollution out of the 2.3 million Americans with emphysema who live in those monitored counties. Nearly 4.7 million Americans with chronic bronchitis live in those counties receiving an F, out of the nearly 6.8 million Americans with chronic bronchitis living in counties with monitors.
-
Over five million fewer Americans -- 5,353,368 lived in counties that received an F grade compared with last year’s report, despite the inclusion of data from 14 additional counties.
-
Of the nation’s over-65 population who live in these monitored counties, 68 percent live in counties that received an F rating in ozone air pollution, while 70 percent of children under 14 who live in monitored counties reside in counties with a failing grade.
-
Over half of all monitored counties (55.8 percent) received an F rating.
-
Over 7.4 million adults with asthma and 2 million children suffering from asthma attacks live in counties that received an F grade in ozone air pollution. Those totals represent 70 percent of the 10.6 million American adults with asthma and 69 percent of the 2.8 million children suffering from asthma attacks who live in counties with an ozone monitor.
|
