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Local Air Quality Improves, Still Long Way To Go

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(Photo Credit: KDKA)

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – There are some new statistics out about the air we breathe in Pittsburgh.

The American Lung Association just released its "State of the Air" report.

Pittsburgh and the surrounding counties have a long way to go, when it comes to improving air quality.

In a report released by the American Lung Association, the region was ranked sixth in the list of 25 most polluted metropolitan areas in the nation.

"It makes everybody a little apprehensive when you say we are in the lower tier as far as the quality of the air, that's disturbing," Keith Weston said.

The data was collected over three years and focuses on ozone and particle pollution caused mostly by cars, trucks, coal fired power plants and coke making facilities.

Allegheny County scored an "F" in both categories.

The surrounding counties didn't rank much better as Washington and Westmoreland received a "D" in both.

Beaver and Mercer received an "F" in ozone, a "B" in particle pollution.

"Ozone is linked to triggering asthma attacks and just respiratory problems in general. It can actually be like a sunburn on your lungs," Rachel Filippini said.

Although it may seem like all doom and gloom, it's not. These findings are actually an improvement over reports in previous years.

"Improvements are being made, but the problem is, the improvements aren't happening as fast as many other metropolitan areas, so we are still lagging behind," Filippini said.

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