The State of the Air 2011 Report by the American Lung Association

in News, Particulate Matter

Austin Air Purifiers help to eliminate Air Pollution

Every year for the past 12 years, the American Lung Association has analyzed data from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) state air quality monitoring to learn about the air we breathe and how to protect our health offering steps to make air cleaner and healthier. According to newly released the “State of the Air 2011,” living in some California cities, exposes residents to the worst air pollution in the country. On the other hand, in Honolulu and Santa Fe-Espanola, N.M. there are actually no days of smog and soot at unhealthy levels. The study also shows that about 50 percent of the nation is exposed to excessive levels of smog and other pollution conditions. Reducing indoor pollution levels that enter the home with Austin Air purifiers will help to eliminate the health dangers.

The American Lung Association “State of the Air 2011″ Report

In the “State of the Air 2011” report released by the American Lung Association at the end of April, we learn that about 17 million Americans live in areas that contain smog, pollution and harmful soot called particulate matter. These exposure numbers concern experts because scientific research has established direct links between air pollution and the threat to human health. These concerns are not only for lung problems, but noted by Michael Jerrett, professor of environmental health sciences at University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health.

He says that when smog levels spike, there is an increase of hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses, heart attacks and stroke. He goes on to explain that pollution contributes to low birth weights, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and shorter life spans. Dr. Norman Edelman, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association agrees and points out that small particles can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger inflammatory response and over time, damage blood vessels and the heart.

The “State of the Air 2011” report establishes that 6 percent of Americans have year-round exposure to unsafe levels of soot (particulate matter) in places such as Bakersfield-Delano; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside; Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz.; Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa.; Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, Ala.; and Louisville-Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, Ky.-Ind. 20 percent experience excessive short-term pollution exposure at places such as Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside; Fresno-Madera; Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City (Calif.-Nev.);  San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos; and Merced. Finally, as much as 48 percent of the US population live where smog is at unhealthy levels including locations such as Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, Texas and Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury, N.C.-S.C..

On the positive side, the Director of National Policy for the American Lung Association, Janice Nolen, points out there are many cities that have experienced improvement with polluted air. She believes that the Clean Air Act has been extremely effective at reducing emission sources including from cars, diesel trucks and coal-fired power plants. She goes on to say, “We are trying to remind folks that the Clean Air Act has saved hundreds of thousands of lives…Without the cleanup, we would have a lot more pollution and a lot more disease and dying.”

Conclusion

Fresh Air Woman in FieldAir pollution is still very prevalent according to the new “The State of the Air 2011.” With so many of us exposed every day to air pollution known to have an adverse effect on our health, we should take extra steps to clean our indoor air with air purifiers. Austin Air purifiers can help to improve air quality in your area.  They are the best air cleaners on the market for removing tiny particulate matter and chemical gases.

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