Mass Counties' air quality getting poor grades again

A not very promising story from a MA paper yesterday:

Counties' air quality getting poor grades again

BOSTON - The grades are in for air quality in Bristol and Norfolk counties, and neither are bringing home a good report card this year, although Bristol County is making progress.

The American Lung Association released its annual air quality report - "State of the Air 2011" - at a Statehouse news conference Wednesday.

Bristol County received a grade of "D" in the ozone category, up from an "F" in 2010. Norfolk County's grade remained an "F" for the second year in a row.

But then, no Massachusetts county received better than a "D" for ozone, and most were graded "F."

Letter grades were based on the average number of days counties had unhealthy or hazardous air quality from April through September. According to the report, Bristol and Norfolk counties recorded a total of 29 high ozone days from 2007 to 2009. Speakers on Wednesday, however, said Bristol County stood out as a good example of how Massachusetts is reducing particulate matter with its 'A' grade in the 24-hour particle pollution category. Bristol had no high particle pollution days from 2007 to 2009.

You might want to check the annual report from the American Lung Association on air quality in your area.

From the business side, poor air quality means we need to spend a lot more money cleaning it up and, in the meantime, our health care system will be burdened with related diseases and sicknesses, keeping people out of work and out of production.  A poor environment is financial quick sand.  We need to get better.