The American Lung Association’s State of the Air report, released April 25, showed vast improvements in the quality of air throughout the state. “The State of the Air report shows that we’re making real and steady progress in cutting dangerous pollution from the air we breathe,” said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO, in a news release. Several cities in Louisiana were listed as cleanest in the nation for particle pollution, including Alexandria, Baton Rouge-Pierre Part, Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, Lafayette-Acadiana, Lake Charles-Jennings, Monroe-Bastrop and Shreveport-Bossier City-Minden. No parishes were listed in the list of top 25 most polluted cities. However, the Baton Rouge Metropolitan area was ranked No. 24 on the list of most ozone-polluted cities. In the past, Baton Rouge has been scrutinized as a “toxic” city. In 2011, Forbes ranked it as the fifth most toxic place in the country. Mike Durham, director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, told The Daily Reveille in March 2011 that one factor that may have led to the ranking is the release of pollutants by industries that burn natural gas or coal in the area. Despite the negativity surrounding the Red Stick, the data shows overall air quality improvement in the state. “Even though the Baton Rouge area is listed by the ALA as ozone polluted, the number of actual high ozone days has decreased significantly,” said Peggy Hatch, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality secretary. Air quality is measured by color indicators. From 2008 to 2010, East Baton Rouge Parish had 27 orange days, which are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups but not the general public, and zero red or purple days. Red days represent unhealthy air quality and purple days are deemed very unhealthy. These numbers are down from the 2007 to 2009 report, where 33 orange days and one red day occurred in East Baton Rouge Parish. “The air quality is the best it has been since the Clean Air Act was enacted,” Hatch said. “The EPA recognized Louisiana for this accomplishment in 2011.” According to the report, the top 10 cities on the list of most ozone polluted cities in the nation were all in California, except for one city in Texas. Los Angeles came in first place, and Houston took eighth. Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared May as Air Awareness Month in Louisiana. May is traditionally the start of ozone season, and the proclamation was made to encourage citizens to become familiar with the Air Quality Index, according to Jean Kelly, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson. Kelly said citizens should also understand what causes ozone formation and take steps to help improve air quality. Kelly said the ozone formation is most prevalent between May 1 and Sept. 30, but it may occur at other times as well. “When everyone takes necessary steps to limit the formation of ozone-causing pollutants, there is a chance the ozone formation may decrease,” Kelly said in a news release. Kelly suggested the public use mass transit or carpool in order to get around the city. She said citizens need to conserve energy at home and to buy energy efficient appliances. “Good air quality is every one’s responsibility,” Kelly said in the release. The American Lung Association’s State of the Air report, released April 25, showed vast improvements in the quality of air throughout the state.
“The State of the Air report shows that we’re making real and steady progress in cutting dangerous pollution from the air we breathe,” said Charles D. Connor, American Lung Association President and CEO, in a news release.
Several cities in Louisiana were listed as cleanest in the nation for particle pollution, including Alexandria, Baton Rouge-Pierre Part, Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, Lafayette-Acadiana, Lake Charles-Jennings, Monroe-Bastrop and Shreveport-Bossier City-Minden.
No parishes were listed in the list of top 25 most polluted cities. However, the Baton Rouge Metropolitan area was ranked No. 24 on the list of most ozone-polluted cities.
In the past, Baton Rouge has been scrutinized as a “toxic” city. In 2011, Forbes ranked it as the fifth most toxic place in the country.
Mike Durham, director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, told The Daily Reveille in March 2011 that one factor that may have led to the ranking is the release of pollutants by industries that burn natural gas or coal in the area.
Despite the negativity surrounding the Red Stick, the data shows overall air quality improvement in the state.
“Even though the Baton Rouge area is listed by the ALA as ozone polluted, the number of actual high ozone days has decreased significantly,” said Peggy Hatch, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality secretary.
Air quality is measured by color indicators. From 2008 to 2010, East Baton Rouge Parish had 27 orange days, which are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups but not the general public, and zero red or purple days. Red days represent unhealthy air quality and purple days are deemed very unhealthy.
These numbers are down from the 2007 to 2009 report, where 33 orange days and one red day occurred in East Baton Rouge Parish.
“The air quality is the best it has been since the Clean Air Act was enacted,” Hatch said. “The EPA recognized Louisiana for this accomplishment in 2011.”
According to the report, the top 10 cities on the list of most ozone polluted cities in the nation were all in California, except for one city in Texas. Los Angeles came in first place, and Houston took eighth.
Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared May as Air Awareness Month in Louisiana.
May is traditionally the start of ozone season, and the proclamation was made to encourage citizens to become familiar with the Air Quality Index, according to Jean Kelly, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson.
Kelly said citizens should also understand what causes ozone formation and take steps to help improve air quality.
Kelly said the ozone formation is most prevalent between May 1 and Sept. 30, but it may occur at other times as well. “When everyone takes necessary steps to limit the formation of ozone-causing pollutants, there is a chance the ozone formation may decrease,” Kelly said in a news release.
Kelly suggested the public use mass transit or carpool in order to get around the city. She said citizens need to conserve energy at home and to buy energy efficient appliances.
“Good air quality is every one’s responsibility,” Kelly said in the release.
 
____ Contact Lauren Duhon at [email protected]