Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 5/8/05 Section: Campus News

Source: Bay Area Air Quality Management District [Click to enlarge]

The Bay Area is ranked in the top 25 of the most particle-polluted areas in the United States and more than 152 million Americans, or 52 percent of the U.S. population, live in counties that received an "F" for either ozone or particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association State of the Air's 2005 report, which was released April 28.

Particle pollution is measured in two different ways. Short-term particle pollution measures 24-hour spikes in toxic air pollution, opposed to chronic, pervasive pollution, which is measured by averaging the 24-hour measurements over an entire year.

The report states that particle pollution is a much deadlier form of air pollution that comes from wood burning and exhaust fumes from diesel trucks and buses, along with dust.

Since 2000, the American Lung Association has published this annual report, which analyzes and grades pollution levels. Despite the widespread impact of air pollution, the Bush administration has proposed legislation to weaken and delay the enforcement of the Clean Air Act.

"Air pollution can cause heart attacks, trigger asthma and has also been linked to lung cancer," said David Lowe, a public relations agent at the American Lung Association of Santa Clara-San Benito counties. "As one of the top 25 most particle-polluted areas in the United States, the Bay Area contains air pollution which can pose an immediate public health threat."

According to the report, in the nine Bay Area counties, there are 439,457 adults with asthma, 136,446 children with asthma, 209,351 people suffering from chronic bronchitis, 74,179 individuals with emphysema, 1,706,435 local residents with cardiovascular disease and 337,779 people diagnosed with diabetes.

Terry Trumbull, environmental lawyer and board director for the American Lung Association of Santa Clara and San Benito counties, said outside air quality is set to protect human health if you are a 25-year-old healthy adult. The standards do not protect those who are young (infants through 14), people 55 and older or who have asthma or breathing difficulties.

While the Clean Air Act aims to protect certain individuals, this does not safeguard protection from indoor air.

"There are no standards for what we breathe indoors, but (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that indoor air quality is five to ten times worse than outdoor air," he said. "Of course, our outdoor air got us 'F' ratings. There is no regulation on indoor air quality, except for workers."

Trumbull said air quality affects everyone and we should all take our part in protecting the environment.

"We must continue to fight any effort to weaken the Clean Air Act or roll back current air pollution standards," Trumbull stated in the report. "Improved air quality is crucial to public health, and everybody - schools, businesses, industry and individual residents - must do their part to reduce air pollution."

Trumbull added that he and one of his environmental studies students, Julie Callahan, take many precautions throughout their day-to-day schedules to enforce healthy air quality.

While carpooling to San Jose State University, driving a hybrid and minimizing the use of heating may seem like simple endeavors, there are other precautions Trumbull takes, including buying green power through his electricity utility, removing all carpeting and installing a hepa-filter system in his home.

Trumbull takes these precautions year-round, but with the release of the State of the Air report, May began the American Lung Association's Clean Air Month. In the Bay Area, the association will hold an annual Clean Air Awards Luncheon, which will be held Thursday at the World Trade Club in San Francisco to honor local Bay Area businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the community who have made significant contributions to fighting air pollution.

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