America's most polluted cities (CNN) {CA, TX top seven}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: April 29, 2009: 12:46 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) --
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The organization rates communities on three criteria: ozone, short-term particle spikes and long-term particle averages. The ratings are based on statistics compiled for the years 2005 through 2007 at monitoring stations maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Los Angeles, Fresno and Bakersfield, all in California, had the dubious distinction of being in the top 10 list of all three categories.

The ALA found that the worst places to breathe are: Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Visalia, all in California, for ozone pollution; and Bakersfield, Pittsburgh and Visalia in terms of average particulates.
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Of the 25 cities with the worst ozone pollution problems, 16 recorded higher ozone levels in this year's report compared with last year. A dozen of the 25 cities with the worst average particle problem (microscopic soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols) experienced an uptick in those pollutants. Another four showed no change and nine improved. Thirteen cities recorded more days of severe spikes in particle pollution

Six of every 10 Americans - 186 million people - live in places where their lives are endangered by the air they breathe, according to Stephen Nolan, the American Lung Association National Board Chairman.

"Air pollution is a major threat to human health," he said in a prepared statement. "When 60% of Americans are left breathing air dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, to shape how kids' lungs develop and to kill, air pollution remains a serious problem."
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more: http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/28/real_estate/most_polluted_cities/index.htm

[happyslug]

1. I like the report, I didn't know Pittsburgh was in California

From the cite:
Dirt Devils
The nation's 10 most polluted cities by amount of particulates.
Metro area State Average particles level (2005-2007)
Bakersfield CA 20.3
Pittsburgh CA 19.8
Visalia CA 19.3
Birmingham AL 18.9
Hanford CA 17.6
Fresno CA 17.4
Cincinnati OH 17.3
Detroit MI 17.2
Los Angeles CA 17.1
Cleveland OH 16.

Now Pittsburg Ca does exist, but I doubt it was the city referred to in the article as:

"There's some criticism of the findings based on where the EPA monitoring stations are located. In Pittsburgh, for example, one station sits near the largest coke plant in the nation. Coke, an ingredient in steel manufacturing, is made by baking coal and produces lots of ash and other particles.

The "largest coke mill in the Country" is in Allegheny County PA whose county seat is Pittsburgh PA (I mean Pittsburgh CA, CNN can't be wrong).

Yes, we native Pittsburghers are proud of our H in the name of the City.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Pittsburgh

It would not be bad, but the Actual coke Works are in Clairton PA, an old River Town up the Monongahela River from Pittsburgh. Clariton is in the same County as Pittsburgh, but technically the Coke plant is NOT in the City of Pittsburgh:
http://www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc5786.php
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09092/960021-28.stm
http://www.alleghenyfront.org/transcript.html?storyid=200808271713020.93213

[eppur_se_muova]

2. I used to work at Pitt, well remember the pyridine/thiophenol smell from the coke plant ...

those things are NASTY. Thank goodness the wind doesn't blow that way often.

And yeah, I remember the H. :D