An American Lung Associate report finds Idaho still has work to do when it comes to good air quality. The “State of the Air 2014” report shows Ada County has seen an increase in year-round particle pollution compared to last year’s report.
The study released Wednesday looked at air quality from 2010 to 2012. Franklin, Lemhi, and Shoshone counties all received F grades for too many days of unhealthy particle pollution. Ada County got a D and Canyon county got a B.
Only eight of Idaho’s 44 counties had any kind of air quality reporting, according to the report. Statistics were not available for the rest of Idaho’s counties. Overall, the report found that nearly half of all Americans – more than 147 million – live in counties where ozone or particle pollution levels make the air unhealthy to breathe.
Some of the cities with the cleanest air were Bangor, Maine, and Bismark, N.D. Some of the worst cities were Los Angeles, Fresno, and Bakersfield, all in California.
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