L.A. Tops List of Nation's Most Polluted

[RedEarth]

Source: (AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles can continue being the butt of smog jokes now that it has once again topped the American Lung Association's bad air list of most polluted cities in America. The association found that the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside metropolitan area had the worst air based on 2003 through 2005 figures.

The Pittsburgh area was ranked as the nation's second most polluted metropolitan area followed by Bakersfield, Calif., Birmingham, Ala., Detroit and Cleveland. Visalia, Calif., Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis rounded out the top 10.

"Nobody is surprised that LA has an air pollution problem," said Janice Nolen, the association's assistant vice president for national policy and advocacy. "The problems there are one of the reasons we have the Clean Air Act. But it is important for folks to know that there has been some improvement."

The organization based the rankings on ozone pollution levels produced when heat and sunlight come into contact with pollutants from power plants, cars, refineries and other sources. The group also studied particle pollution levels emitted from these sources, which are made up of a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air.

Such pollution can contribute to heart disease, lung cancer and asthma attacks, the association said. Those especially vulnerable to polluted air are children, senior citizens, people who work or exercise outdoors and people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.


Read more: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070501/D8ORIN000.html

[YOY]

1. I'm shocked I tell ya...even by the runners up...

n/t

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. Anyone know where I can find the full list?

It does not seem to be linked in the article.

I find it rather scarey that #3 and #7 are both in California's Central Valley, north and a bit east of L.A; my parents live in Visalia. I would be interested in seeing which other cities made the list.

[kimmylavin]

3. How's this?

From the American Lung Association's website: http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2007.html

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Much obliged! n/t

[pnwmom]

5. I've noticed that since we moved here (more than 20 yrs ago), Seattle

has sharply reduced the number of air pollution alert days -- and lowered our ranking on "worst" lists like this. One thing that was put in place was the burn bans; we also started more emissions inspections.

[SemperEadem]

6. I remember when living out there

that some days, the smog was so bad I could literally feel it in my lipstick. It would get gritty from being ouside for less than 15 minutes.

[snooper2]

7. Why isn't Houston in the top 10?

nt

[Shakespeare]

12. Agreed. I find that a little suspicious.

a few years ago, they were ahead of LA...

[Coventina]

8. Mild surprise Phoenix isn't at the top.

Although, after going to the website, I see that Maricopa County's air quality grade is "F". No surprise there.

[High Plains]

9. Hmmm, guess those smoking bans aren't having much impact.

[David Zephyr]

10. The AQMD has been compromised and sadly, by some Democrats in Sacramento.

State Senator Nell Soto being one.

[ohio2007]

11. Yet in a few months a new study will reveal LA is the most liveable city

in the country.

Just depends who does the polling and who greases the palms of the polsters.

[candice]

13. EPA says 25 % of the pollution has floated over from China!

...a little added costs to having sent our manufacturing abroad. Thanks Newt for not letting us sign the Kyoto agreement because China and India wouldn't and it would affect our manufacturing.