186 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of smog

The 10th annual American Lung Association State of the Air report released April 29 finds that six out of ten Americans--186.1 million people -- live in areas where air pollution levels endanger lives.

State of the Air 2009 acknowledges substantial progress against air pollution in many areas of the country, but finds nearly every major city still burdened by air pollution. Despite America’s growing “green” movement, the air in many cities became dirtier. The State of the Air report includes a national air quality “report card” that assigns A-F grades to communities across the country. The report also ranks cities and counties most affected by the three most widespread types of pollution (ozone—or smog, annual particle pollution, and 24-hour particle pollution levels) and details trends for 900 counties over the past decade.

“This should be a wake-up call. We know that air pollution is a major threat to human health,” said Stephen J. Nolan, American Lung Association National Board Chair. “When 60 percent of Americans are left breathing air dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, to shape how kids’ lungs develop, and to kill, air pollution remains a serious problem.”

(Parts of the Twin Cities metro area received a grade of "D" for ozone and particle pollution). Click here for the story in Science Daily. For information on Minnesota from the American Lung Association go to this link and then click on Minnesota for specifics, county by county.