American Heart Association deals Amador (and Calaveras) another 'F' on air
Amador Ledger Dispatch
May 10, 2008
By Kelly Scott
While some counties managed to cut ozone and particle pollution in the past three years, others have stalled in their efforts, according to the American Heart Association. In a new report on the public health dangers of air pollution, the association again ranks Amador County at the bottom.
According to the report, five of the eight metropolitan areas rated as the most polluted counties are in California, while one county in the state ranked in the top two of cleanest.
"The ALA graded 700 counties nationally on ozone and particle pollution," Janice Nolen, assistant vice president of the ALA, said in a teleconference call with reporters last week. "These results were collected by the state and verified by the Environmental Protection Agency."
Nolen said that for the first year since the rankings began, a city outside California ranked first in pollution. Typically, Los Angeles has held that dubious honor, but due to modest improvement, the Southern California city came in second to Pittsburgh, Penn.
Jim Harris, air pollution control officer at the county air district, explained that much of the local pollution is transported from the Central Valley. When there is visible haze in the valley, any low pressure system can push the dust or smoke into the foothills, leading to a ranking that "makes us look bad."
"The ALA has rated us an F for years," Harris said. "I don't know if they actually come here or if they are just reading numbers in an office somewhere."
ALA Senior Policy Director Bonnie Holmes-Gen told the Ledger Dispatch that both Amador and Calaveras counties received F grades on the report, and that Calaveras actually had more poor air days than Amador. The difference between the two, she said, is Calaveras ranked an A for short term particle pollution, which is a different problem than the ozone pollution.
Among the most widespread pollutants are ozone and particle pollution, which can increase health risks with exposure. Ozone is a reactive gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms and is the primary ingredient of smog. Ozone pollution attacks lung tissue by reacting with it chemically. Particle pollution, on the other hand, is not simple. It refers to a mix of tiny solids and liquids that are in the air we breath and become trapped in the lungs. The smallest of particle pollutants pass through the blood stream just like essential molecules.
According to Amador County Public Health Officer Dr. Bob Hartmann, the worsening air quality has been matched by worsening health conditions.
"The health effects of air quality has increased childhood asthma (in the county)," he said. "There is also a worsening of chronic asthma, pulmonary diseases and an increase in cardiovascular problems."
Both Hartmann and Harris say most of Amador's grimy air comes courtesy of prevailing winds, something Holmes-Gen agreed poses an interesting challenge.
"Achieving more success in San Joaquin Valley will positively impact Amador County due to the less transport of pollution," she said. "However, it is important to remember that the majority of smog forming emissions are from motor vehicles."
ALA Board Chair Gwendolyn Young added that diesel pollution and petroleum consumption top the list of things California needs to transition away from.
"California cannot be complacent," she said. "There is still a lot to do - achieving 33 percent renewable power, cleaner fuels in vehicles and equipment, and a dramatic change in land use planning to limit trips and have a greater quality of life."
Cascade Sierra Solutions is currently working along the Interstate 5 corridor on diesel emissions and pollution solutions for heavy duty trucks. Chief Executive Officer Sharon Banks said that there is little awareness in the trucking community regarding solutions to particle and ozone pollution and that Cascade Sierra is working on breaking down that barrier.
Harris said he didn't believe the lack of vehicle smog requirements in Amador County had a lot to do with the air quality, but added that all counties should be subjected to fair and equitable requirements. "We do suggest that people combine all trips into one when they are using their car and try to use public transportation as much as possible," he said.
Vehicles, trucks and fuels are what Holmes-Gen attributed the bad air quality to in Amador County. Not only across the state, but in the county as well, she said. Local efforts to reduce vehicle trips, improve access to alternative transportation and retro-fitting diesel trucks will help in greatly reducing carbon emissions.
"It's important that Amador County start reducing vehicle trips with better land use planning," she said. "Public transit, carpooling and biking are also good ways to save unnecessary trips."
Rishi Sangani, a 15-year-old who suffers from asthma and participated in ALA's California asthma camp this year, said that he worried about the future for those like him if pollution reduction isn't made a priority. "If you can't breath, then nothing else matters," he said.
To read the report, visit www.californialung.org.
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