American Lung Association: SOTA04 Introduction

American Lung Association--Improving Life, One Breath at a Time

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American Lung Association State of the Air 2004

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction

Regional Analyses

Tables:
◊ Populations at Risk in the US
◊ Populations at Risk in the Most Polluted Cities in US
◊ Populations at Risk in the Most Polluted Counties in US
◊ Populations at Risk in the Most Polluted Counties in Each State
◊ Cleanest Cities in the US
◊ Cleanest Counties in the US

Health Effects of Ozone and Particle Pollution
◊ Particle Pollution: Deadly Then and Now
◊ Ozone Pollution: the Most Pervasive Pollutant

Protecting the Nation From Air Pollution
◊ The Clean Air Act: Under Fire
◊ Delays that Harm
◊ The Problem with Power Plants
◊ Deep-Cleaning the Dirtiest Diesel

Conclusion

State Tables

Appendix A: Description of Methodology
Appendix B: Regional Differences In Sources For Ozone And Particle Pollution

Introduction cont'd

Particle pollution

All too many who live in areas with unhealthful ozone levels also face a second, even more dangerous threat: particle pollution. This report estimates that millions live in areas with unhealthful either short-term or year-round levels of particle pollution:

81 million live in counties with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution and
66 million live in counties with chronically unhealthful particle levels.

Those who are particularly vulnerable to ozone are also at greater risk from particles. Unfortunately, particle pollution also threatens another large group: people with cardiovascular diseases. All totaled, millions of especially endangered Americans are living in areas where particle pollution levels place them at risk.

The Basis for the American Lung Association State of the Air Report

Because millions are exposed and millions are at risk, the American Lung Association produces the American Lung Association State of the Air each year to alert individuals, families, industry and government leaders to the dangers inherent in the air we breathe.

In 2000, the American Lung Association initiated its State of the Air annual assessment to provide citizens with easy-to-understand air pollution summaries of the quality of the air in their communities that are based on concrete data and sound science. Counties are assigned grades ranging from "A" through "F" based on how often their air quality crosses into the "unhealthful" categories of EPA's Air Quality Index for ground-level ozone (smog) pollution, and now, for short-term particle pollution.

The Air Quality Index is, in turn, based on the national air quality standards. The air quality standard for ozone used as the basis for this report, 0.08 parts per million averaged over an eight-hour period, was adopted by the EPA in 1997 based on the most recent health effects information. For particle pollution, the Air Quality Index is based on, but is more conservative than the PM2.5 24-hour national standard. Also adopted in 1997, the national standard for PM2.5 24-hour levels is 65 μg/m3. However, EPA set the Air Quality Index for particles to acknowledge that levels below 65 μg/m3 are harmful to public health.⁴

To evaluate the year-round levels of particle pollution for any monitored county, the American Lung Association State of the Air: 2004 uses the decision of EPA in its determination whether the county met or failed to meet the national air quality standards. More detailed discussion of the methodology is contained in Appendix A.

The grades in this report are assigned based on the quality of the air in areas, and do not reflect an assessment of efforts to implement controls that improve air quality. The grades should not be interpreted as an evaluation of the work of any state or local air pollution control programs.

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