Los Angeles Still Among Top 5 For Bad Air

Los Angeles suffers the 4th highest concentration of asthma-inducing particle pollution among US cities, according to a report released this spring by the American Lung Association.

Los Angeles was replaced in the top slot in this year's report by Bakersfield, CA. California has three of the top five cities with the highest particle pollution, and four of the top five for ozone pollution.

Los Angeles also ranked #1 in levels of ozone, which has been shown to worsen lung diseases like asthma and COPD (emphysema). Ozone high up in the atmosphere is a good thing -- it blocks cancer-causing ultra-violet rays from the sun -- but is unhealthy in the air we breathe.

Despite its consistently high-ranking, Los Angeles' air pollution levels, of both ozone and particulates, have dropped significantly in the last five years. Some of the reasons are cleaner cars, stricter regulations, and fewer high-polluting industries in the Los Angeles basin.

Despite cleaner air, the Los Angeles basin remains "out of compliance" with federal air-quality standards.

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