Air quality report gives midstate communities failing grades

(Harrisburg) — An annual study of air quality in the midstate is raising some concerns.

The American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2013 report ranks the Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle Metro Area as 19th wost in the nation for daily particle pollution.

It measures tiny solid and liquid particles in the air that can come from sources like vehicle exhaust or coal-fired power plants.

Kevin Stewart is the Lung Association’s director of environmental health in the mid-Atlantic region.

He says despite the low marks, the situation across the state is improving in general.

“It’s critical to remember that the air quality used to be a lot worse than it is now, that we are making progress that before was very difficult to envision,” Stewart says.

Cumberland County ranks as the second-worst in the commonwealth for daily particle pollution.

The study also looks at ozone, or smog.

It gives York and Berks counties failing grades for high ozone days.