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Choked Up
What's lurking in the air we breathe?

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very moment, every day, you're breathing air. You generally can't see the air you breathe. How do you know if it's clean?

The American Lung Association studies air quality across the United States. They published their latest findings in State of the Air: 2007. They found that half of the people in the U.S. live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution.

The study looked at the two major kinds of air pollution: particle and ozone. While ozone pollution levels are generally going down, levels of particle pollution are now dangerously high. Those levels were highest in the Eastern states.

Particle pollution is very fine and almost invisible. However, it is very dangerous to people. Breathing particle pollution, also known as soot, can trigger asthma and other breathing problems. It can also cause heart attacks and strokes in older people. Some major sources of particle pollution are vehicles, power plants, and burning wood and trash.

Ozone (sometimes called smog) can also bring on asthma attacks. It can also cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and many serious lung and breathing problems. Almost half of all Americans live in areas with too much smog. A major cause of ozone pollution is burning fossil fuels (oil, gasoline, and coal) in automobiles, factories, and refineries. Los Angeles and Houston are two cities with major ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association.


Most of the polluted areas are major cities. "Where there are lots and lots of people, generally you're going to find higher levels of pollution," explains Janice Nolen, a spokesperson for the American Lung Association. "Because we have a lot of cars in those areas . and because, especially in the eastern United States, we rely on coal burning to generate the electric power that we use for our homes and offices, we have a lot of pollution that comes from burning coal, burning gasoline, and burning diesel [fuel]."

Air pollution has a serious effect on people under 18 years old. "Children and teenagers . inhale more air per pound than adults do. They're outside and often more active," says Nolen. "Eighty percent of their lungs develop after they're born, and will continue to develop until they're 18 years old. Their lungs are actually being shaped by the air pollution they breathe."

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Think About It!

Most of the metropolitan areas with clean air are in western mountain states. Why do you suppose those areas have cleaner air?
To help keep our air clean, the U.S. government sets acceptable levels for what businesses and industries can put into the air. "The federal government has some powers that it uses to clean up large sources [of pollution] that are everywhere, like cars," explains Nolen. "It helps to set standards so that pollution coming out of cars, trucks, or buses . all meet standards that are based on the goal for clean air."

But what can you do to help? The American Lung Association says that everyone can help keep the air clean by following these tips:
  • Drive less. Walk, ride a bike, or take public transportation whenever possible.
  • Save energy around the house. Turn off those lights and computers when you aren't using them.
  • Reduce the use of fireplaces or wood-burning stoves.
  • Encourage your school to cut down on pollution from school buses. Buses can shut down when parked in front of a school instead of idling, which pollutes the air in and around the school.
Air Pollution Rankings



How much do you know about clean air? Take our quiz to find out!


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