How Does Your City’s Air Quality Stack Up?

We know air quality in the US is not the greatest and is responsible for some percentage of asthma, early death in the elderly and babies, and cardiopulmonary disease.  While we are better off than in China (all that coal burning for energy over there) and while we have made strides, US air quality has a long way to go.  The American Lung Association just tabulated the results of the latest round of data reported by states to the EPA.   Connecticut reported ozone levels so high they fall into the red alert category for 7 days in Hartford County and 15 days in Fairfield.  Red alert means unhealthy for everyone and sensitive groups (e.g., asthmatic children) may have serious problems (e.g., requiring medical intervention).   See  Chapter 11 of our book What’s Toxic, What’s Not to find out more about what this means and how to avoid the bad air (no you don’t have to move to Fargo ND, which was rated as city with best air quality).  Also go to the USEPA website to monitor the Air Quality Index for the current day in your locale.