WASHINGTON, July 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As many Americans hit the
road for the 4th of July, the non-profit Clean Air Watch today warned that
no fewer than 37 states plus the District of Columbia have already
experienced unhealthful levels of smog so far this year.
The survey by Clean Air Watch volunteers is the first comprehensive
snapshot of air quality in the United States under new ozone standards set
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earlier this year.
The survey of public web sites found monitored readings of dirty air in
states from coast to coast -- from Washington and California to Vermont,
Maine and Florida.
"Even though we've made progress over the years in reducing smog, this
survey is compelling evidence that we still have a widespread and major
smog problem," noted Frank O'Donnell, president of Clean Air Watch. He
noted that unhealthful levels of air quality are being recorded even under
standards that EPA's independent science advisers unanimously judged to be
inadequate to protect public health.
"So, if anything, this survey understates the true extent of the smog
problem," O'Donnell noted. "These findings show we must continue to reduce
emissions that cause smog -- including coal-burning electric power plants
and existing diesel engines," O'Donnell noted.
He warned that electric power companies led by Duke Energy have sued to
derail a federal plan to reduce emissions from coal-burning electric power
plants.
"It could be a disaster for air quality if Duke wins," O'Donnell said.
He also called on the Bush administration to move forward with proposed
standards to clean up lawn mowers and other dirty small engines, and to
make sure those standards are strictly enforced to prevent dirty imported
engines from China.
Ozone, commonly described as smog, can trigger asthma attacks, send
people to hospital emergency rooms and shorten lives. The survey found that
24 states plus the District of Columbia also had air quality worse than the
"old" EPA smog standard. The biggest problems generally were recorded in
California, where car and factory emissions have been compounded by fires.
The list of states and more on the survey is available at
http://blogforcleanair.blogspot.com/2008/07/smog-watch-08-status-report-thr
ough.html.
|
