EMBARGOED UNTIL:
5 a.m. (ET), April 27, 2011
CONTACT: Deborah Brown
President & CEO
American Lung Association, Mid-Atlantic
Phone: (610) 563-6992 (cell)
Email: dbrown@lunginfo.org
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
Pittsburgh Air Improves for Particle Pollution and Ozone in Lung
Association ‘State of the Air’ Report
Still, Among Most Polluted U.S. Counties, Allegheny County Remains in Top 25; Receives All
‘F’s’ in Pollution Categories
Pittsburgh Metro Area Ranks 3rd Most Polluted City for Daily Levels of Particle Pollution and
7th Most Polluted for Year-Round Average Levels
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
PITTSBURGH, Pa. [Embargoed Until: 5 a.m. (EDT), April 27, 2011]—The Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area
had much improved year-round and short-term levels of particle pollution, as well as ozone pollution,
according to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2011 report, released today. Air quality in
the region improved with fewer days of dangerous air pollution and lower long-term average level of fine
particle pollution compared to last year’s report. In the report’s top 25 list of most polluted cities for yearround particle pollution, there was also improvement – this year, the Pittsburgh Metro Area went from 5th
most polluted city to the 7th. However, the gains in particle and ozone pollution were not enough: the
Pittsburgh area remains the 3rd most polluted city for short-term particle pollution behind Bakersfield and
Fresno, California, and its ranking among cities most polluted for ozone worsened from 32nd last year to
24th this year, returning it to the top 25 list.
Allegheny County received “F’s” for both categories of particle pollution and ozone pollution, and
in the top 25 list of most polluted counties, ranked 3rd for short-term particle pollution, marking no change
from last year - and 7th for year-round particle pollution, an improvement from 5th place last year. Among
the list of most ozone-polluted counties, Allegheny’s rank declined from 66th to 41st in the nation.
Despite the continued problems, this year’s report showed that the Pittsburgh region improved its
air quality, similar to the majority of American cities most-polluted by ozone or year-round particle
pollution. Pittsburgh’s progress comes thanks to the continued cleanup of deadly pollution required by
the Clean Air Act; however, the air quality report also reveals that just over half the nation—154.5 million
people—live in areas where levels of ozone and/or particle pollution are too often dangerous to breathe.
Even though so many people live where bad air can make them sick, some members of Congress are
proposing changes to the Clean Air Act that would interfere with efforts to reduce air pollution and protect
public health.
“Dangerous levels of smog and particle pollution continue to threaten our Pittsburgh community.
When we look at results across the country, we see that the Clean Air Act works, and we must safeguard
its protections,” says Deb Brown, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the MidAtlantic. “We are committed to fighting for healthier air and cleaning up pollution results in healthier air.
Now is not the time to stop progress.”
She adds, “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 the Pittsburgh area and Allegheny County is a failing grade for everyone.”
Of a total population of 2.4 million people, groups at increased risk from air pollution in the
Pittsburgh Metro Area include:
Infant, Children and Youth under 18:
495,068
Persons 65 and above:
422,943
Children with Asthma:
51,002
Adults with Asthma:
174,497
Persons with Chronic Bronchitis:
89,288
Persons with Emphysema:
48,733
Persons with Heart Disease:
783,055
Persons with Diabetes:
183,922
Persons Living in Poverty:
290,876
According to the report, all metropolitan 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. However,
only 11 cities among those most polluted by short-term spikes in particle pollution experienced
improvement.
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.
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 strong progress in cleaning the air we breathe, 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,” said Deb Brown. 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 the Pittsburgh region,” said Deb Brown. “We must ensure the
protections of this groundbreaking environmental legislation.”
The Clean Air Act saved more than 160,000 lives in 2010, according to EPA’s recent analysis.
The American Lung Association in Pennsylvania 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.
Pittsburgh area 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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