A report by the American Lung Association finds that air pollution has fallen to its lowest levels since the group began collecting data in 2000. The ALA credits the Clean Air Act.?
American cities with the dirtiest air have reached a new milestone in efforts to clean up their act.
Skip to next paragraphThe air quality in the US is at its highest level in a decade, according to a new report released by the American Lung Association (ALA) Wednesday. The nonprofit organization credits the trend to tougher environmental standards set for smog and soot in the air.
?We?re making real and steady progress in cutting dangerous pollution from the air we breathe,? said Charles Connor, American Lung Association president and CEO, in the organization's State of the Air press release. ?We owe this to the ongoing protection of the Clean Air Act,? which has sought cleanup of major air pollution sources, such as coal-fired power plants and the fleet of older, dirtier SUVs, pick-up trucks, vans, and diesel engines.
Major improvements in air quality were seen in cities most polluted by ozone as well as particle pollution ? a noxious mix of ash, vehicle exhaust, and aerosols. As of 2010, ozone levels across the country had dropped 13 percent since 2000, while particle pollution was 24 percent lower, according to the ALA, which began to monitor air quality in 2000.
Los Angeles remained the city with the worst ozone-pollution problem. But it ? along with Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and more than half of the country?s most smog-polluted cities ? reported their lowest air-pollution levels?in 13 years, based partly on data collected?by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).?
The trend toward cleaner air continued even as the economy began rebounding in 2008 following the recession, giving rise to higher energy use and more miles driven, the report says.
?We know now it?s possible to have both,? says ALA Assistant Vice President Janice Nolen. ?In spite of economic growth, we?ve been able to reduce pollution, and that means that these are permanent, real changes that have allowed us to have cleaner air.?
All but three of the 25 cities with the most year-round particle pollution improved since last year?s report.
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন