Report: Duluth has some of the nation's cleanest air

Apr 25 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Duluth News Tribune, Minn.

Duluth has some of the nation's cleanest air, according to the American Lung Association's "State of the Air 2012" report, released Wednesday.

Duluth was one of five municipal areas named in the national report as a "cleanest city" for both ozone and year-round particle pollution.

It was ranked 18th on the association's list of "Top 25 Cleanest U.S. Cities for Year-Round Particle Pollution." It was one of 39 cities on the unranked list of cleanest cities for ozone air pollution. It did not make the list of the cleanest cities for short-term particle pollution.

The lists were compiled using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ozone and particle pollution data from 2008, 2009, and 2010. The American Lung Association has produced "State of the Air" reports for 13 years.

According to the association, the communities on the cleanest cities lists for ozone and for short-term levels of particle pollution had no days with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Those lists are not ranked because all the cities earned the same scores. The cities on the list of the cleanest for year-round particle pollution levels are ranked by their average levels of particles, as calculated by the EPA.

On a statewide level, the report gave Minnesota improved grades for the number and severity of "high ozone days," but lower grades for "high particle pollution days." The report covers 18 Minnesota counties that have permanent air quality monitors maintained by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

St. Louis, Lake, and Carlton counties were among 13 counties receiving an "A" grade for ozone.

St. Louis County received the state's highest grade, a "B," among the seven counties graded on particulate pollution.

Minnesota's slumping scores for particle pollution are reason for concern, because increases in particle pollution can lead to early death, heart attacks, strokes, and emergency room visits for people with asthma and cardiovascular disease, the Minnesota Chapter of the American Lung Association said.

The association said people can help reduce air pollution by decreasing energy use at home, avoiding recreational fires or mowing lawns on air quality alert days, and taking advantage of mass transit.