| Report: A third of
Americans face high levels of fine-particle pollution By Bruce Geiselman Jan. 20Nearly a third of the U.S. population, or 96 million people, live in areas with unsafe levels of fine-particle pollution, according to a report by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, an advocacy group. PIRG analyzed levels of particle pollution in the U.S. in 2004 based on a survey of state environmental agencies. Coal-fired electric power plants are the largest source of fine particle pollution, which can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems. "Children, senior citizens and even healthy adults suffer asthma attacks and other health problems from soot pollution," said Emily Figdor, a PIRG spokeswoman. PIRGīs report, based on a survey of environmental agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, concluded that fine-particle pollution exceeded either the annual or the 24-hour health standards in 55 large, midsized, and small metropolitan areas in 21 states. California, Pennsylvania, Utah, Georgia and Ohio had the worst fine-particle pollution, according to PIRG, which has called on Congress to strengthen legislation that would reduce small-particle pollution. However, a group representing some of the nationīs electric power plant operators dismissed PIRGīs findings, saying they are misleading. "U.S. PIRG has again attempted to scare the public regarding particle matter pollution," said Scott Segal, director of the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council. In fact, Segal said, pollution levels have been decreasing because of emission control steps undertaken by electric power plant operators. Particle pollution levels have declined even as overall energy consumption has increased 41 percent since 1999, he said.
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