Critics Charge ALA's Most Polluted Cities Data Is Dirty

The American Enterprise Institute questions the American Lung Association's recent State of the Air 2004 report, which identified the most polluted cities in the U.S.

1 minute read

May 4, 2004, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"The public's interest is in an accurate portrayal of risk. This is the only way to make informed choices on air pollution reductions versus other public and private priorities. With the health benefits exaggerated and the costs safely hidden from view, the result has been unnecessarily stringent standards and overinvestment in pollution control... State of the Air 2004 continues ALA's five-year tradition of inflating air pollution levels and health risks in a so-far successful effort to maintain an unwarranted climate of public fear. ALA and other activist groups' tried-and-true strategy stands on three pillars: (1) exaggerate the frequency and extent of high air pollution, (2) take modest, rare, or nonexistent health risks and turn them into serious and pervasive ones, and (3) ignore positive trends and invent negative ones."

Thanks to PreservingtheAmericanDream Listserv

FULL STORY: State of the Scare, Once Again

Monday, May 3, 2004 in Tech Central Station

Environment United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.