PITTSBURGH,None — The air in the surrounding Pittsburgh areas is the cleanest it's been in at least a decade, according to an American Lung Association air quality report released on Wednesday.
However, it looks like Pittsburgh still has some room for improvement.
The Allegheny County Health Department said the cleaner air during the study period from 2006 to 2008 is a result, in part, from a decrease in pollution and better controls and regulation of the area's industry sector.
"It's clearly getting better," Highland Park resident Vladimir Padov said. "I have no problems. It's a great city to raise children."
But despite the lower levels of air pollution, western Pennsylvania ranked third-worst in the country for short term particle pollution, according to the report.
Particle pollution is caused by burning coal, wood or diesel.
"It's the best it's been in the lifetime for virtually every resident in this county and certainly out in the Liberty-Clairton area," said Health Department spokesman Guillermo Cole. "We've seen a steady decrease in pollution levels over the past decade and certainly over the past 20, 30, 40, 50 years or more."
The study shows the worst-case scenario. It takes its readings from the Liberty-Clariton area near the Clairton Coke Works plant.
"We think it's unfair," Cole said. "It's painting with a very broad brush."
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