EMBARGOED UNTIL:
5 a.m. (ET), April 27, 2011
CONTACT: Deborah Brown
President & CEO
Phone: (610) 563-6992 (cell)
Email: dbrown@lunginfo.org
American Lung Association, Mid-Atlantic
Kevin M. Stewart
Director, Environmental Health
American Lung Association, Mid-Atlantic
Phone: (717) 541-5864 x56 or
(717) 330-1790 (cell)
Email: kstewart@ lunginfo.org
Delaware Scores Mixed Grades in American Lung Association’s
Annual State of the Air Report
Despite Positive Local Trends in Cleanup of Deadly Pollution,
Delaware’s Particle Pollution and Ozone Grades Remain Unchanged Since 2010 Report
NEW CASTLE COUNTY RANKS AMONG 25 MOST POLLUTED CITIES FOR OZONE, SHORT-TERM AND ANNUAL
PARTICLE POLLUTION AS PART OF THE PHILADELPHIA-CAMDEN-VINELAND METRO AREA
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 Delaware received
mixed grades in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2011, which assigned all three counties
an “F” for ozone (smog), mixed grades for short-term particle pollution (soot) and “Pass” for year-round
particle pollution. New Castle County, as part of the Philadelphia–Camden-Vineland Metropolitan Area, is
among the top 25 most polluted cities for all three pollution categories. Although pollution levels improved
for the state, all grades remain unchanged compared to last year’s report.
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 dangerous
precursor pollutants 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 Delaware families from dangerous levels of ozone,” said Deb Brown,
President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic. “We commend the First State’s
standing of ‘Pass’ in year-round particle pollution and the passing grades in two of the three counties for
short-term pollution, but until air pollution levels improve as a whole, the public health will continue to be
in risk.”
“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 Delaware is a failing grade for everyone in the state.”
Of a total population of more than 885,000, groups at increased risk from air pollution in Delaware
include:
Infants, Children and Youth under 18:
206,993
Persons 65 and above:
126,693
Children with Asthma:
27,961
Adults with Asthma:
58,096
Persons with Chronic Bronchitis:
30,009
Persons with Emphysema:
15,429
Persons with Heart Disease:
256,069
Persons with Diabetes:
55,338
Persons Living in Poverty:
96,410
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). Delaware’s air pollution problem shows up in
New Castle County, which received an “F” for short-term particle pollution but passed for yearround particle pollution levels. It ranks as the 20th most polluted city – a marked improvement from
last year’s 12th place ranking - in the top 25 most polluted cities list as part of the Philadelphia-CamdenVineland Metro Area for short-term particle pollution. New Castle County is tied for 24th place in annual
particle pollution – last year it ranked 35th worst – as part of the metro region. Kent and Sussex Counties
received a “B” for short-term particle pollution and a ‘Pass’ for annual particle pollution. “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).
Although smog levels in all three
Delaware counties improved since the 2010
report, the levels still resulted in an ‘F’ grade.
In the list of top 25 most ozone-polluted cities, New
Castle County ranked 20th on the list as part of the
Philadelphia Metro Area, an improvement from last
year’s tied ranking of
22nd.
Ozone (smog) 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 health problems that are immediate and that can 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.
Delaware 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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