The American Lung Association released its
”
State of the Air 2011
”
report last week, with San Benito coming in as one of the
counties with the best air quality in the state.
San Benito is one of only six counties to get an
”
A
”
for having a low daily level of particle pollution from
2007-2009, the most recent data.
The American Lung Association released its “State of the Air 2011” report last week, with San Benito coming in as one of the counties with the best air quality in the state.
San Benito is one of only six counties to get an “A” for having a low daily level of particle pollution from 2007-2009, the most recent data.
“Air pollution is a serious health threat to all Californians,” said Jane Warner, the president and CEO of the American Lung Association in California, in a press release. “California has made tremendous improvements in the fight for clean air thanks to the work of the state’s strong Air Resources Board and local Air Quality Management Districts, but work still needs to be done. Cleaning up pollution results in healthier air. Now is not the time to stop progress.”
The Central Coast region was one of the best in the state, and includes San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and parts of Ventura County.
“This coastal region enjoys better air quality generally than many inland areas in the state,” according to the report. “However, transport of ozone pollution from more polluted areas in the state results in significant numbers of ozone days in four of the counties.”
To get an A for the number of ozone days, a county has to have less than 3.3 days over the three-year period. San Benito had a weighted average of five days.
The main causes of pollution in the Central Coast region included on-road and off-road sources, such as vehicles. There is direct pollution from tailpipe emissions as well as indirect emissions from paved and unpaved areas. Agricultural operations, such as burn piles and industrial operations, were also a source. The unhealthy ozone days were largely attributed to the pollution from bordering air basins in the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles.
While San Benito fared well, more than 90 percent of Californians live in counties with high levels of particle pollution or a high number of ozone days. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside ranked No. 1 for ozone pollution with Bakersfield-Delano No. 1 for short-term particle pollution and annual particle pollution.
“Ozone and particle pollution levels today still contribute to thousands of hospitalizations, emergency room visits and early deaths every year,” said Sonal Patel, a volunteer physician for the American Lung Association in California. “We know that air pollution can literally stunt children’s lung development. People suffering from asthma and other lung and heart diseases are particularly at risk.”
To view a full copy of the report, visit www.lungusa.org/california.
