SACRAMENTO, CA - The American Lung Association released its annual ranking of cities with the worst air pollution and Sacramento has the dubious honor of making the Top 10 in two categories.
10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Short-term Particle Pollution1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
2. Los Angeles/Long Beach/Riverside
3. Fresno/Madera
4. Bakersfield
5. Birmingham, Alabama
6. Logan, Utah
7. Salt Lake City
8. Sacramento
9. Detroit
10. Baltimore/Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia
Short-term particle pollution are microscopic particles that contribute to breathing problems, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and other health impacts.
In addition to particle pollution, the ALA ranked the cities most polluted by ozone, the main ingredient in smog, and Sacramento is on that list as well.
U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Ozone1. Los Angeles/Long Beach/Riverside
2. Bakersfield
3. Visalia/Porterville, California
4. Houston
5. Fresno/Madera
6. Sacramento
7. Dallas-Fort Worth
8. New York/Newark, New Jersey
9. Baltimore/Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia
10. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Overall, the report found that air pollution levels dropped from 2000 to 2006, but the reductions have stalled in the last few years. The ALA says air pollution levels in the Sacramento region continue to improve although the area has a ways to go to achieve healthy air.
Join us
Live_Online on News10 at 5 p.m. to discuss this study with representatives from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and ALA.
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