Air Pollution in the Delaware Region

The picture of our air is not a pretty one. The region from Philadelphia to Washington, DC, and extending into Maryland and middle Pennsylvania ranks high on the list of most polluted air in the nation. Have a look.

Most polluted cities

Smog:

1 Los Angeles (CA)
2 Bakersfiled (CA)
3 Visalia-Porterville (CA)
4 Fresno (CA)
5 Houston (TX)
6 Merced (CA)
7 Dallas (TX)
8 Sacramento (CA)
9 Baton Rouge (LA)
10 New York (NY)
11 Washington (DC), Baltimore (MD)
12 Philadelphia (PA)
13 Modesto (CA)
14 Hanford (CA)
15 Phoenix (AZ)
16 Charlotte (NC)
17 Las Vegas (NV)
18 Milwaukee (WI)
19 St Louis (MO)
20 El Centro (CA)
21 Kansas City (KS)
22 Beaumont (TX)
23 Chicago (IL)
24 Grand Rapids (MI)
25 Atlanta (GA)
26 Cleveland (OH)

Particles:

1 Los Angeles (CA)
2 Pittsburgh (PA)
3 Bakersfield (CA)
4 Birmingham (AL)
5 Detroit (MI)
6 Cleveland (OH)
7 Visalia (CA)
8 Cincinnati (OH)
9 Indianapolis (IN)
10 ST Louis (MO)
11 Chicago (IL)
12 Lancaster (PA)
13 Atlanta (GA)
14 York (PA)
15 Fresno (CA)
16 Weirton (WV)
17 Hanford (CA)
18 New York (NY)
19 Canton (OH)
20 Washington(DC) Baltimore (MD)
21 Charleston (WV)
22 Louisville (KY)
23 Huntington (WV)
24 Philadelphia (PA)
25 Hagerstown (MD)
26 Rome (GA)

Source: The American Lung Association

Meanwhile we continue to generate electricity in a coal fired plant at Indian River. And we continue to discuss possible wind generated power without making a move. We cannot afford this discussion. The time for action is now. We are late already, but if we continue to pollute our air one day our region will begin to look like Los Angeles.

The nation needs new and more strict regulation of auto emissions along with stringent rules for industrial emissions. Our children and grandchildren deserve a chance to breathe clean air. We deserve the same chance.

Peace.