Gasping for Air in America

Next American City's Hamida Kinge reviews the "State of the Air" report from the American Lung Association and finds dire news for the majority of Americans.

1 minute read

June 26, 2009, 8:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

Emphasized in the report is the disproportionate impact on lower impact communities.

"America is dirtying its own air in cities from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. And it's getting dirty via coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and other industrial sources, massive ocean-going vessels, and diesel- and gasoline-powered engines of all kinds – from trucks to bulldozers to lawn-mowers. Despite the fact that the most prominent of politicians rarely if ever utter the words "air pollution" – the focus in the last few years has been on clean energy for the sake of decelerating climate change, although clean energy also has tremendous benefits for air, water and land. More than 50 percent of the country lives in areas where the air is unhealthy."

FULL STORY: State of the Air: Issue 23 Preview

Thursday, June 25, 2009 in Next American City

Environment Land Use United States Public Health Air Pollution Low Income Communities View More

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