America's Most Polluted Cities, 2011

[Jazzy]

Remember the fog that lingered over Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics? It wasn't fog. It was dirty air. Yes, China faces a world-class air quality problem. But before you get too smug about its smog, consider this: 154.5 million Americans, just over half the nation's population, live in areas where air pollution levels are often dangerous to breathe. That's according to the American Lung Association's (ALA) just-released report 2011 State of the Air.



Here are the nation's five most polluted cities: http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/americas-most-polluted-cities-2011.html



My question: Do any of you live in these cities?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

We have real bad air quality. Each morning at work I check the local air quality website, see what it is, then hang the flag letting the public know the air quality. The flags are colored. Green - good air day / yellow - moderate / orange - unhealthy for sensitive people / red - unhealthy for all



Today is a yellow day

 

[Jazzy]

We have real bad air quality. Each morning at work I check the local air quality website, see what it is, then hang the flag letting the public know the air quality. The flags are colored. Green - good air day / yellow - moderate / orange - unhealthy for sensitive people / red - unhealthy for all



Today is a yellow day

Very interesting and I wouldn't want to live in any of these cities. I worry about the elderly, young children and people with respiratory problems who do. Do you have many red flag days? Are certain times of the year worse?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Red days are rare. Its usually green or yellow. More green in the winter & especially during and after it rains for some reason. Now that its starting to warm up the air quality we will have more yellow and orange days. I dont know how the whole thing works.

We have Spare the Air Days once in a while where they local news channels and newspapers ask people car pool, take the bus or ride a bike to get around.