Pollution still a huge concern for area residents. (Pittsburgh, California: 2013, homes)

[gg]

This is what I find really shocking!

An estimated 28% of the region’s 2.45 million residents suffer from cardiovascular disease, with high pollution levels putting them at risk of further exacerbating their condition.

Yahoo!

[Joe Magarac]

Take it with a grain of salt.

1. The monitor that the feds use to determine pollution in the metro Pittsburgh area is immediately downwind of the US Steel plant in the Mon Valley. This has been a source of controversy for years, as local environmental regulators (like the county) argue that if the monitor were located upwind of that plant, or downtown, or in the suburbs, Pittsburgh's readings would be much better, and Pittsburgh wouldn't be on any top-10 lists for pollution.

2. Even with the monitor where it is, Pittsburgh's air has been getting cleaner and cleaner over the years. The trend continues to point in that direction - our largest source of pollution right now consists of coal-fired power plants in Ohio and West Virginia, some or all of which might switch over to cheap local natural gas (which creates less pollution than coal).

3. The quote you cite (in bold font) doesn't say that Pittsburgh's pollution causes 28% of the population to have cardiovascular disease. It's rather the other way around - 28% of the population has cardiovascular disease, and the pollution could make it worse.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by Joe Magarac

3. The quote you cite (in bold font) doesn't say that Pittsburgh's pollution causes 28% of the population to have cardiovascular disease. It's rather the other way around - 28% of the population has cardiovascular disease, and the pollution could make it worse.

Right!

The OP read that all wrong....

[gg]

Keep sugar coating this. Pittsburgh received an F grade. That one monitor isn't the only one that reads F levels. It is what it is, but don't pretend there isn't a huge problem. TONS of asthma in our region and a lot of oxygen tanks.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

TONS of asthma in our region and a lot of oxygen tanks.

We have a lot of smokers and ex=smokers too.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Hopes

We have a lot of smokers and ex=smokers too.

^ This. I feel like I don't belong sometimes because I don't smoke in this city.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Keep sugar coating this. Pittsburgh received an F grade. That one monitor isn't the only one that reads F levels. It is what it is, but don't pretend there isn't a huge problem. TONS of asthma in our region and a lot of oxygen tanks.

If our air is so unhealthy, check out Atlanta and other car-eccentric places in the south during the summer. I couldn't even breathe the last time I went to Atlanta and it wasn't allergen related.

[trackstar13]

High levels of air pollution make the Pittsburgh region a risky area to live when it comes to asthma, cancer and cardiovascular disease, according to studies presented by a parade of researchers at Tuesday's public health summit Downtown.
Pittsburgh health summit finds link between pollution, health problems - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

While the air in Pittsburgh is the cleanest it's ever been, the American Lung Association still ranks the city among the United States' most-polluted metropolises.

Pittsburgh is one of two metro areas outside of California to rank among the top 25 most polluted by ozone smog and by soot, formally called long- and short-term particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association's State of the Air 2013 report released today.

Pittsburgh was ranked 7th in short-term particle pollution, 8th in year-round particle pollution and 24th among the ozone-polluted, the lung association said.

But the quality of air has improved in each category since last year, as "the air quality in Pittsburgh, and nationwide, continues the long-term trend to much healthier air," the group said in a press release.

The number of "unhealthy air days" decreased from 20.7 from 26.3, according to the survey.


Report: Pittsburgh's air quality improving, but still among most polluted - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[sparrowmint]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

^ This. I feel like I don't belong sometimes because I don't smoke in this city.

Pittsburgh remains part of the national trend showing a small but steady decline in adults who smoke. The overall percentage of adults who smoke in Pittsburgh decreased from 18.5% in 2009 to 17.2% in 2010.

Current Smokers

Yes, you only belong to the 83% who don't smoke.

[gg]

Originally Posted by sparrowmint

Current Smokers

Yes, you only belong to the 83% who don't smoke.

Yeah, blaming smoking on the issues is silly. We are about the same as the national average, so there aren't more smokers here than anywhere else. It is the air we have that is creating a lot of issues. Lots of kids with asthma here. It is a problem and it needs to be fixed.