How Healthy is Your Air?

The 10th Annual State of the Air report issued by the American Lung Association gives an overview of how healthy the air where you live is. There is even a feature where you can input your zip code and find out statistics for the air where you live, including: high ozone days, particle pollution, and groups at risk.

The overview of our nation’s state of the air reveals that six out of ten Americans don’t have healthy air. Air health is measured by how much ozone and particle pollution is present in any given area. These air pollutants cause symptoms ranging from shortness of breath to heart attacks. Other statistics from the air health report are:

• 40.5 million Americans live in counties where the outdoor air failed all three tests.
• Only one city—Fargo, N.D.—ranked among the cleanest in all three air pollution categories covered in State of the Air.

This is alarming! There are initiatives underway by various groups including the EPA to reduce the level of harmful elements in the air we breathe. These include: reducing the amount of pollutants generated by vehicles and industry, placing limits on emissions, and more. In the meantime, it is important to keep tabs on the outdoor air quality in your area and limit exposure during high ozone/high particle days for people especially susceptible to respiratory distress including infants and the elderly. Indoor air can also be polluted. It is critical to have proper ventilation in your home to remove indoor air pollutants.