Pittsburgh air gets an “F”

Seven out of eight Pennsylvanians live in highly polluted areas, according to the American… Seven out of eight Pennsylvanians live in highly polluted areas, according to the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report. The report also said that Pittsburgh is the fourth worst city in the nation, in terms of short-term particle pollution.

“Pittsburgh has made its way to another list, and it’s not a good one,” City Council President Gene Ricciardi said.

Eleven million of Pennsylvania’s approximately 12 million citizens live in areas that received an “F” grade on the report. Four cities in Pennsylvania were among the top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas in the nation.

But at least one city planner is skeptical of the results. Jayme Graham, the head of planning for the Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality program, said the location of one of the air pollution monitors — near U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works — might have created a false impression.

“It is an accurate monitor, but it is not representative of the larger Pittsburgh area,” Graham said. “The Pittsburgh area is a lot closer to the regional standard.”

Ricciardi recently introduced resolutions to the City Council that would enact “Ozone Action Days,” which would encourage people to avoid activities that increase air pollution, such as idling car engines, grass mowing or using oil-based paints.

“I want Pittsburgh to be proactive and lead by example,” Ricciardi said. “I want to point out that these resolutions affect only City government, but it is my hope that other governmental entities, including Allegheny County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, will follow our lead.”

Mike Epitropoulos, a visiting lecturer in sociology at Pitt, serves as chairman of the Green Party of Pittsburgh and sits on the International Committee of the United States Green Party.

“I support Mr. Ricciardi’s initiative and would push for more and tougher such measures because they simply aren’t enough,” he said. “The fact remains that there is not a mass consciousness or concern beyond one’s convenience and pocketbook.”

Epitropoulos said that Pittsburgh must expand mass transit, promote alternative modes of transportation and crack down on polluters in cooperation with the state.

But he felt that action in that direction was unlikely.

“I don’t see any political will whatsoever on this approach from anyone, including most of our oil and gas addicted people,” he said. “The Environmental Protection Agency has made it clear that the Bush administration’s Clear Skies Initiative has clearly weakened air standards, prompting companies to spew more toxic and harmful elements into our environment.”

In Washington, one congressman from Pennsylvania advocated the use of natural gas to reduce soaring energy prices and pollution.

Representative John Peterson (R-Pa.) recently introduced a bill that he argued would increase natural gas supplies and reduce energy prices by removing the moratorium on natural gas production. The House of Representatives rejected the bill.

A spokesman for Peterson said that the federal government restricts access to the nation’s most abundant natural gas reserves while supporting the use of natural gas.

“It is a contradictory policy, and that is what the congressman is trying to change,” Paul Feenstra said.

He added that the United States is left with climbing energy prices and pollution levels, as governments in Canada and Europe make the switch to natural gas.

“Natural gas has potential for bus route, taxis and other means of transportation to cut down on pollution,” Feenstra said. “All other countries realize that it is environmentally friendly. Americans have yet to learn that.”

In its report, the ALA warned that highly polluted air is harmful to people with asthma and other respiratory problems.

Epitropoulos agreed.

“There has been readily available data showing a correlation between diesel bus routes and corridors and the incidence of asthma rates,” he said.