American Lung Association: SOTA05 Executive Summary

American Lung Association State of the Air 2005--Protect the Air You Breathe

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American Lung Association State of the Air 2005

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Introduction

National and Regional Analyses

Tables:
◊ Populations at Risk in the US
◊ People at Risk in the 25 Most Polluted US Cities
◊ People at Risk in the 25 Most Polluted Counties
◊ 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
◊ Ozone Pollution
◊ Focusing on Children's Health

Protecting the Nation From Air Pollution
◊ The Clean Air Act: Public Health at Risk
◊ Rolling Back Power Plant Clean Up
◊ Recent Clean Air Act Success Stories

Dirty, Dangerous Diesel

Conclusion

State Tables

Appendix A: Description of Methodology

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 either unhealthful short-term or year-round levels of particle pollution:

Over one-quarter of the population-76.5 million-live in 94 counties with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution and
One in five of the U.S. population-58 million-live in 82 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 two other large groups: people with cardiovascular diseases and people with diabetes. All totaled, millions of especially endangered Americans are living in areas where particle pollution levels place them at risk.

19.7 million children 18 and under live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 15.1 million live in areas with unhealthful yearround levels.
8.8 million adults 65 and older live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 6.7 million live in areas with unhealthful year-round levels.
4.6 million adults with asthma live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 3.5 million live in areas with unhealthful year-round levels.
1.7 million children with asthma live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 1.3 million live in areas with unhealthful yearround levels.
2.3 million people with chronic bronchitis live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 1.7 million live in areas with unhealthful year-round levels.
802,000 adults with emphysema live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 610,000 live in areas with unhealthful year-round levels.
18.3 million people with cardiovascular diseases live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 13.9 million live in areas with unhealthful year-round levels.
3.6 million people with diabetes live in areas with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution; 2.8 million live in areas with unhealthful year-round levels.

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

152 million Americans live in areas with unhealthful levels of air pollution.

152 millones de norteamericanos viven en regiones con niveles insalubres de contaminación del aire.

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 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 Athrough 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.6

To evaluate the year-round levels of particle pollution for any monitored county, the American Lung Association State of the Air 2005 uses the decision of EPA in its determination whether the county met or failed to meet the national air quality standards. A 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 an area, and do not assess 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 program.

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