American Lung Association release ‘state of the Air 2012’

The American Lung Association has released its findings on air quality in its State of the Air 2012 report, finding that air quality has improved, but there are still many worrying signs.

Vice president for health promotion and public policy at the American Lung Association Ed Miller said that improvements in air quality pertain to ozone levels, but particle pollution is still a major concern. This suggests that health impacts are still at worrying levels in the country, with little being done to cap the pollution being generated by cars, trucks and wood burning.

The ALA refers to this kind of pollution as "a deadly cocktail" of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, and metals, to name a few. Mr Miller told Fosters Daily Democrat: “Levels of pollution we used to think were not harmful and were safe we now find are no longer safe.

"There's been more and more data showing ozone at the lower levels is more harmful. This is about creating awareness and understanding.”

The report focussed on the state of New Hampshire, which lies in the north-east of America above major cities such as New York and Boston. A lack of air monitoring in the region was cause for concern for Mr Miller, who noted several key areas that were still not undergoing pollution controls.

Posted by Claire Manning