April 29, 2010
Huntington Makes Particulate Air You Don’t Want to Be On List
Charleston, Weirton Tie at No. 11; Parkersburg/Marietta at No. 25
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Huntington and its surrounding region have been placed on another of those lists you don’t want to be on. The American Lung Association on Wednesday, April 28, issued its State of the Air 2010 which finds that “more than half of the population of the United States still suffers pollution levels that are too often dangerous to breathe.”
Particle pollution—called fine particulate matter or PM 2.5—is a combination of tiny specks of soot, dust, and aerosols that are suspended in the air. Cities with problems with short-term levels have "spikes" in particle pollution that last anywhere from hours to days. Cities with year-round particle pollution face unhealthy levels day-in and day-out.
"People with heart or lung diseases, children and older adults are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure," said Norman H. Edelman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the American Lung Association in a news release. "Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing. It also causes irregular heartbeat, heart attacks and even premature death in people with heart or lung disease."
The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. metropolitan area moved to the top of the list of cities most-polluted by year-round particle levels, while Bakersfield, Calif. ranked as the city having the most days of unhealthy short-term particle pollution. Nearly one-quarter of the people in the U.S.—almost 70.4 million—live where there are unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution, while roughly one in ten people—23.8 million—live where there are unhealthful levels year-round.
"The more we learn about particle pollution, the more we know we need to act," said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO. "Dirty power plants and dirty diesel vehicles, heavy equipment and ocean-going vessels currently in use are some of the biggest polluters that threaten the lives and health of our families. The American Lung Association supports tighter controls on these big polluters to improve air quality. We are continuing our long-fought battle to cut pollution to save lives."
Huntington/Ashland ranked #16, while Charleston, W.Va., ranked #11. Other WV cities on the year round particle pollution list are Weirton/Steubenville (#11 tie), and Parkersburg/Marietta (#25).
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Huntington Makes Particulate Air You Don’t Want to Be On List
Charleston, Weirton Tie at No. 11; Parkersburg/Marietta at No. 25
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Huntington and its surrounding region have been placed on another of those lists you don’t want to be on. The American Lung Association on Wednesday, April 28, issued its State of the Air 2010 which finds that “more than half of the population of the United States still suffers pollution levels that are too often dangerous to breathe.”
Particle pollution—called fine particulate matter or PM 2.5—is a combination of tiny specks of soot, dust, and aerosols that are suspended in the air. Cities with problems with short-term levels have "spikes" in particle pollution that last anywhere from hours to days. Cities with year-round particle pollution face unhealthy levels day-in and day-out.
"People with heart or lung diseases, children and older adults are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure," said Norman H. Edelman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the American Lung Association in a news release. "Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing. It also causes irregular heartbeat, heart attacks and even premature death in people with heart or lung disease."
The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. metropolitan area moved to the top of the list of cities most-polluted by year-round particle levels, while Bakersfield, Calif. ranked as the city having the most days of unhealthy short-term particle pollution. Nearly one-quarter of the people in the U.S.—almost 70.4 million—live where there are unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution, while roughly one in ten people—23.8 million—live where there are unhealthful levels year-round.
"The more we learn about particle pollution, the more we know we need to act," said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO. "Dirty power plants and dirty diesel vehicles, heavy equipment and ocean-going vessels currently in use are some of the biggest polluters that threaten the lives and health of our families. The American Lung Association supports tighter controls on these big polluters to improve air quality. We are continuing our long-fought battle to cut pollution to save lives."
Huntington/Ashland ranked #16, while Charleston, W.Va., ranked #11. Other WV cities on the year round particle pollution list are Weirton/Steubenville (#11 tie), and Parkersburg/Marietta (#25).
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