EMBARGOED UNTIL:
5 a.m. (ET), April 27, 2011
CONTACT: Deborah Brown
President & CEO, Mid-Atlantic Region
Phone: (610) 563-6992 (cell)
Email: dbrown@lunginfo.org
Kevin Stewart
Director of Environmental Health
American Lung Association, Mid-Atlantic
Phone: (717) 541-5864 x56 or
(717) 330-1790 (cell)
Email: kstewart@lunginfo.org
New Castle County Scores Mixed Grades in American Lung
Association’s Annual State of the Air Report
Despite Positive Local Trends in Cleanup of Deadly Pollution,
New Castle County’s Particle Pollution and Ozone Grades Remain Unchanged since 2010
Report
Ranks in Top 25 Most Polluted Cities for Ozone, Short-Term and Annual Particle Pollution as
Part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland Metro Area
Changes in Most Polluted Counties List Reflect Gains, Declines in Air Pollution
Editors’ Note: Multimedia toolkit including broadcast quality b-roll and photographs are
available at www.stateoftheair.com. Trend charts and rankings for metropolitan areas and
county grades are available at www.stateoftheair.org.
WILMINGTON, Del. [Embargoed Until: 5 a.m. (ET), April 27, 2011] — Air quality in New Castle County
received mixed grades in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2011, which assigned an “F”
for ozone (smog), an “F” for short-term particle pollution (soot) and “Pass” for year-round particle
pollution. As part of the Philadelphia–Camden-Vineland Metropolitan Area, New Castle County is among
the top 25 most polluted cities for all three pollution categories, ranking 20th for ozone pollution, 20th for
short-term particle pollution, and tying for 24th for year-round particle pollution. Of the most polluted U.S.
counties, it did not make the top 25 list, but ranked 75th in ozone, 53rd in short-term particle pollution and
61st in year-round particle pollution.
Although the grades assigned for New Castle County remain unchanged from last year’s report,
rankings among U.S. cities and counties did change: the Philadelphia Metro Area improved from its 12th
place rank in short-term pollution from last year, but worsened from 22nd place in ozone and 35th in yearround particle pollution. In the list of most-polluted counties, New Castle improved its ranking in both
particle pollution categories, compared to its standing of 35th in short-term particle pollution and 47th in
annual particle pollution last year. However, it worsened from its previous standing of 93rd for ozone
pollution.
Nationally, State of the Air 2011 finds that the majority of American cities most-polluted by ozone
or year-round particle pollution have improved, thanks to continued progress in the cleanup of deadly
toxics required by the Clean Air Act.
“State of the Air 2011 tells us that the Clean Air Act is working, based on trends nationwide, but
we have to do more to protect the New Castle County families of Delaware from dangerous levels of
ozone,” said Deb Brown, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic. “We
are grateful for the county’s standing of ‘Pass’ in annual particle pollution, but it is vital that New Castle
County greatly improve on its failing grade in ozone and short-term particle pollution.”
“We are all affected by air pollution –even the most active, healthy adults are hurt, but particularly
children, older adults and people with lung disease, diabetes, heart disease and those living in poverty. A
failing grade for New Castle County is a failing grade for everyone in the county.”
Of a total population of more than 534,000, groups at increased risk from air pollution in New
Castle County include:
Infants, Children and Youth under 18:
127,014
Persons 65 and above:
64,384
Children with Asthma:
17,157
Adults with Asthma:
35,428
Persons with Chronic Bronchitis:
17,582
Persons with Emphysema:
Persons with Heart Disease:
8,516
146,173
Persons with Diabetes:
31,533
Persons Living in Poverty:
52,424
The Lung Association’s annual air quality report reveals that just over half the nation—154.5
million people—live in areas with levels of ozone and/or particle pollution that are often dangerous to
breathe. Even though so many people live in areas where bad air can make them sick, some members of
Congress are proposing changes to the Clean Air Act that would weaken the enforcement needed to
continue to reduce air pollution, threatening human health.
The State of the Air 2011 report grades cities and counties based, in part, on the color-coded Air
Quality Index developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help alert the public to
daily unhealthy air conditions. The 12th annual release of the Lung Association’s report uses the most
recent EPA data collected from 2007 through 2009 from official monitors for ozone and particle pollution,
the two most widespread types of air pollution. Counties are graded for ozone, year-round particle
pollution and short-term particle pollution levels. The report also uses EPA’s calculations for year-round
particle levels.
According to the report, all metro areas in the list of the 25 cities most polluted by ozone showed
improvement over the previous report, and 15 of those cities experienced the lowest levels yet. All but two
of the 25 cities most polluted with year-round particle pollution improved over last year’s report. Only 11
cities among those most polluted by short-term spikes in particle pollution, however, experienced
improvement.
Particle levels can spike dangerously for hours to weeks on end (short-term) or remain at
unhealthy levels on average every day (year-round). “Particle pollution kills," said Kevin M. Stewart,
Director of Environmental Health of ALAM-A. “When you breathe these microscopic particles, you are
inhaling a noxious mix of chemicals, metals, acid aerosols, ash, soot and others from diesel exhaust and
other sources. It is as toxic as it sounds and can lead to early death, asthma exacerbations, heart attacks,
strokes and emergency room visits in substantial numbers. Science clearly has proven that we need to
protect the health of the public from the dangers of particle pollution.”
How Big is a Particle?
EPA drawing showing the size of microscopic,
dangerous particles in relation to the diameter of a
human hair (center) and fine beach sand (brown
image on the left).
Ozone is the most widespread air
pollutant, created by the reaction of sunlight on
emissions from vehicles and other sources. When
ozone is inhaled, it irritates the lungs. It can cause
immediate health problems and continue days
later. Ozone can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and even premature death.
Despite continued levels of toxic air pollution nationwide and evidence that clean-ups have
drastically cut air pollution levels, some members of Congress are proposing to weaken or block
enforcement of the Clean Air Act, including steps to strip legal authority and funding from the EPA. Such
moves would undermine the cleanup that remains, including the long-overdue cleanup of coal-fired power
plants EPA recently proposed. As the Lung Association pointed out in its March report on toxic air
pollution from coal-fired power plants, the pollution from more than 440 coal-fired power plants in 46
states are among the biggest contributors to ozone and particle pollution in the U.S. In addition, these
plants produce 84 known hazardous air pollutants like arsenic, mercury, dioxins, formaldehyde and
hydrogen chloride, which blow across state lines polluting the air thousands of miles away from the
plants. Since this pollution spreads across state lines, the EPA’s ability to enforce standards is the only
protection many communities have.
The American Lung Association released a bipartisan poll in February that showed Americans
overwhelmingly support efforts for even tougher air quality standards and oppose Congressional action
that interferes with the EPA’s ability to update clean air standards. “Some in Congress are working to
weaken the Clean Air Act and care more about safeguarding the interests of industry polluters than the
health of Americans, including those in Delaware,” said Deb Brown. “Clearly, this is not the time to slow
or stop the enormous progress made to reduce air pollution.”
The Clean Air Act saved more than 160,000 lives in 2010, according to EPA’s recent analysis.
The American Lung Association in Delaware is committed to keeping the law in place to protect all of
those at risk in air pollution, from the most vulnerable populations to the healthiest populations.
New Castle County residents are urged to voice support for the EPA to continue to protect the air
in its community and can do so in a number of ways:

Tell the EPA that you want the coal-fired power plants cleaned up. Go to www.lungaction.org to
send an email to the EPA.

Join the American Lung Association’s advocacy team. Visit our web site at www.stateoftheair.org
to see your local air quality grades and to send a message to Congress about protecting the
Clean Air Act.

Take steps to clean up the air in your community and to protect your family: Drive less; walk; bike;
carpool; or take the transit. Don’t burn wood or trash. Make sure your local school system uses
clean school buses. Use less electricity. Don’t exercise on high pollution days and never exercise
near busy freeways.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter at @LungAssociation for much more information about
lung health news.

Make a financial contribution to the ALA to support our fight for clean and healthy air.
About the American Lung Association
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save
lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American
Lung Association is “Fighting for Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information
about the American Lung Association, a Charity Navigator Four Star Charity and holder of the Better
Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800586-4872) or visit www.lungusa.org.
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