Lake County gets top marks in American Lung Association report

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The American Lung Association's 2008 State of the Air Report gives high marks to Lake County.

 

LAKE COUNTY – The American Lung Association's newly released “State of the Air: 2008” report lists Lake County as among the 10 U.S. counties with the cleanest air, giving the county an “A”grade.


Out of the more than 3,100 counties (or county equivalents, like parishes) in the United States, Lake County was listed ninth among counties with the lowest long-term levels of small, airborne particles, and 10th amongst cleanest counties for short-term particulate levels.


The report, which examined levels of ozone and other materials – gave Lake County an “A” for overall air quality, putting it at the head of its class amongst California's 58 counties.


Doug Gearhart, deputy air pollution control officer with the Lake County Air Quality Management District, said last year Lake County was ranked No. 3 in the long-term rankings.


The county's numerical rating actually didn't change, said Gearhart. Rather, he said several counties jumped ahead because of efforts to improve their air quality.


“We're still the only California county in the top 10,” he pointed out.


Lake was, indeed, the only California county listed on either of the top 10 lists. The second-highest rated California county for long-term particle pollution was Inyo, at No. 13. In the short-term list, Mendocino was rated at No. 11, just behind Lake.


Gearhart explained that the short-term ranking looks at air particles – including fine dusts, exhaust and smoke – over 24-hour periods. The long-term ranking was for the period of a year.


Highest-rated counties in the U.S. were Converse, Wyo., in the long-term category, and Baldwin, Ala., in the short-term.


The American Lung Association report also notes that the county had no high ozone days between 2004 and 2006, one of only 13 of the state's counties that didn't have ozone air pollution levels in the unhealthy range.


Ozone, said Gearhart, is a photochemical caused by a reaction in the air between sunlight and certain chemicals, such as nitrogren oxide. It's often most visible in the form of smog, which also includes other pollutants.


For the past 19 years, Lake County has established an unmatched record of meeting federal Clean Air Standards and California's tougher laws regarding ozone and other air pollutants, said Gearhart. He credited strong local support for clean air measure for making that possible.


Particularly, he recognized community cooperation, the efforts of local fire districts and agencies, and the agricultural industry for upholding Lake County's air standards.


Gearhart said the community has cared about air quality and done the right things to maintain it – including the annual burn ban, which is carried out in cooperation with the fire districts and has helped achieve significant improvements in air quality.


Over the past three years, the county's air quality has been monitored continuously in order to show that ozone and small particles never exceeded allowable levels, Gearhart said.


What's the biggest issue facing Lake County's air?


“Our top issue is making sure that people don't take the clean air for granted, that we maintain our efforts to keep the air quality good,” Gearhart said. “If we let things slide we're going to fall out of that clean air category.”


The Air Quality Management District also will be looking for a new leader.


Air Pollution Control Officer Bob Reynolds has announced he's retiring in August. Gearhart said the Board of Supervisors is now seeking Reynolds' successor.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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