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New Yorkers Still Breathing Chunks Of Coal, Gas, New Air Quality Report Says
By
Lauren Evans
Published May 1, 2014
Modified May 1, 2014
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By
Lauren Evans
Published May 1, 2014
Modified May 1, 2014
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New York's air quality isn't the greatest—this isn't a secret, but it is something we should remind ourselves of while running the engine on our Ford Leviathan just because we like the sound. The American Lung Association yesterday released its 2014 annual air quality report, and—surprise!—Bangor, Maine took home the gold for cleanest city. Damn you, Bangor.
New York isn't the most polluted city (big ups to Fresno, Calif.!)—in fact, we've got it better than Washington, D.C. But it's got a long way to go—Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx all received F grades for ozone pollution. Brooklyn was...not tested.
Despite the long list of failing grades, the report's authors say the Clean Air Act has improved air quality considerably over the last decade. Still, 47 percent of the country lives "where pollution levels are too often dangerous to breathe."
Children, teens and adults over 65 are the populations most at risk, but don't worry—even if you're a strapping young 32-year-old with lungs of polished onyx, we'll find you something to worry about. When's the last time you checked in with this map of the city's most toxic sites? Isn't that your child's preschool under that brown oil spill? Thought so.
So about Bangor: The AARP listed Maine's third most populous city as the Best Place to Live the Good Life Under $30K, and at one time, it was noted as the nation's leading producer of moccasins! It's also got one of the lowest crime rates in the country among cities of comparable size. Just saying.
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air quality
american lung association
pollution
state of the air
Lauren Evans
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