FIGHT FOR HEALTHY AIR!

Thirty-eight years ago, the American Lung Association rallied its supporters and fought for and passed our country's landmark healthy air legislation - the Clean Air Act. But, today, our air is still far from healthy.

We just released our annual State of the Air: 2008 report, and the findings are alarming: One in 10 of us live in areas with unhealthful levels of all three types of pollution.  And, even worse, the Environmental Protection Agency is on the verge of weakening our clean air laws.

Air pollution is more dangerous than many people realize - partly because you can't even see the most dangerous, microscopic particles that do the most damage to your lungs - and your life. Ozone and particle pollution can kill.  Air pollution also triggers asthma attacks and sends people to the hospital.  Anyone with a lung disease like asthma is at risk, but so are children and teens, seniors or anyone with heart disease or diabetes.

It's time to fight for healthy air. Some of the biggest sources of pollution are the nation's old, dirty coal-fired power plants.  Proposals in Congress would finally require the EPA to demand these old plants clean up - to stop spewing tons of deadly gases and particles into the air.

As our State of the Air report found, our air is dangerously polluted, and the urgency has never been higher.  Some polluters want the rules relaxed.  But if we act together, we can clean up the air we breathe. Tell your Senators and Representatives to clean up dirty coal power plants by strengthening the Clean Air Act.

We stepped up to the plate 38 years ago to pass the Clean Air Act. Now, it's time to fight and finish the job, for our lungs and for our health.

Visit State of the Air Website

Air pollution continued to challenge the nation in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Some cities—notably Los Angeles and Houston—managed to steadily cut ozone and particle pollution. Progress stalled in many other cities, slowing or eroding gains recorded earlier in the decade. For the first time, a city outside of California—Pittsburgh—topped one of the lists of the most polluted city—and stands on the verge of topping a second.

The adoption of a new ozone standard on March 12th will require redoubled efforts to reduce the nation’s most common air pollutant. The history of battling ozone shows that aggressive measures can cut emissions, leading to much cleaner air. However, the trends shown in this report warn that progress can stall without putting more measures in place to reduce ozone. Unfortunately, some have proposed changes that would weaken the Clean Air Act and set back the progress toward healthier air. ...

Visit State of the Air: 2008 Download Page

You can download full report in pdf format.

Visit the American Lung Association Website

Beginning our second century, the American Lung Association works to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Asthma is the leading serious chronic childhood illness. Lung diseases and breathing problems are the primary causes of infant deaths in the United States today. Smoking remains the nation’s number one preventable cause of chronic illness. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other major causes of death have declined.

The American Lung Association has long funded vital research to discover the causes and seek improved treatments for those suffering with lung disease. We are the foremost defender of the Clean Air Act and laws that protect citizens from secondhand smoke. The Lung Association teaches children the dangers of tobacco use and helps teenage and adult smokers overcome addiction. We help children and adults living with lung disease to improve their quality of life. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.”

For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work we do, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org.

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