Air quality puts us at risk for asthma, other conditions

Air quality in many cities has improved in recent years, but air pollution continues to put far too many people at risk for asthma and other lung conditions, according to a new report. The American Lung Association earlier this week released its State of the Air 2010 report, and results are mixed. Over 175 million people - roughly 58 percent of the American people - still suffer pollution levels that are too often dangerous to breathe. That can lead to asthma and other pulmonary disorders - or complicate those conditions - and even put people at risk for death, according to the report.

The State of the Air 2010 report looked at levels of ozone and particle pollution found in monitoring sites across the United States in 2006, 2007, and 2008. According to the American Lung Association, the report showed that cleaning up major sources of air pollution definitely produces healthier air.  However, the fact that air pollution continues at the asthma-producing rate it does shows that more needs to be done to protect air quality, especially when it comes to cleaning up coal-fired power plants and existing diesel engines. The results also show the need for stronger limits on national air pollution levels—a fight that the American Lung Association has long led as a key to healthier air and less asthma.

It's probably not a coincidence that the State of the Air 2010 report was released during the same week as the May 4 World Asthma Day, in which countries and communities raise awareness of the lung condition. In the United States, more than 23 million people, including more than 7 million children, have asthma. Air pollution, including high ozone levels, traffic fumes and tobacco smoke are classic triggers of asthma attacks, and a separate study has shown that children living near freeways are more likely to visit the emergency room for asthma attacks.

This is depressing. We as a country should be beyond this stage of development. We should have more clean energy (I'm sorry, I don't believe there's any such thing as clean coal) and more clean cars on the streets. And for those people who complain that windmills are unsightly - I say at least you can go outside to look at them. Without them, we could find that the number of days the air is deemed unsafe could increase and going outside to see landscapes could become less and less an option. Personally, I think windmills are kind of cool looking, and I don't care if some people think their land rights as property owners also entitles them to a view.

Hmmmm...I'm feeling kind of grouchy - maybe I'm not getting enough air.

Photo Credit: Simone Ramella