In many areas of California, the most populous state in the United States, a survey has found that air quality can adversely affect residents’ health.<\/p>\n
According to a regional air quality report released by the American Lung Association on the 19th, the average level of ultrafine particulate matter (PM 2.5) over the past three years in 41 counties in California was rated F, the worst among five grades from A to F.<\/p>\n
This is the result of a survey of 49 counties out of 58 counties in California.<\/p>\n
According to the classification standard of this association, if the concentration of ultrafine dust is 35.5\u338d\/\u33a5 or more, it is ‘not good for sensitive groups’ (orange), if it is 55.5\u338d\/\u33a5 or more, it is ‘unhealthy’ (red), and if it is 150.5\u338d\/\u33a5 or more, it is ‘unhealthy’ (red). Viewed as ‘very unhealthy’ (purple). An ‘F’ grade means that the number of days belonging to the orange or higher stage exceeded about 21 days in 3 years.<\/p>\n
By region, the air quality in the southern region was relatively worse.<\/p>\n
In Los Angeles (LA) County, there were 39 days in the orange (71 ppb or more) stage, 13 days in the red (86 ppb or more) stage, and 1 day in the purple (106 ppb) stage.<\/p>\n
LA received an ‘F’ grade in both the 24-hour short-term ultrafine dust level and ozone concentration level.<\/p>\n
In particular, the level of ozone concentration was 175 days in the orange stage, 86 days in the red stage, and 16 days in the purple stage, accounting for 25.3% of the total surveyed period.<\/p>\n
The ozone concentration was rated ‘F’ in 30 of the 49 counties surveyed.<\/p>\n
San Francisco, another large city in California, contrasted with Los Angeles with only one day when the ozone concentration was above the orange level.<\/p>\n
Southern California’s scorching sun and dry climate, along with exhaust fumes from numerous cars, are thought to be contributing factors to increasing ozone concentrations.<\/p>\n
Higher temperatures and more frequent wildfires than ever before are also contributing to California’s air quality.<\/p>\n
The LA Times pointed out, “Cleaning the air in California is becoming more difficult with climate change,” and “hot sunshine causes more wildfires and smog.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"