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Sacramento: Asthma Capital of the West?
8 Oct
Summary
- Sacramento is the worst city in California for asthma risk.
- Mobile sources like cars and trucks cause 70% of air pollution.
- Sacramento's geography traps pollution, worsening air quality.
Marking California's Clean Air Day, a new study has placed Sacramento under scrutiny for its air quality, identifying it as the state's worst city for asthma risk and tenth worst nationally. This ranking by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has alarmed health advocates.
Mackenzie Wieser, a Sacramento County resident, shared her lifelong struggles with asthma, often checking air quality maps before outdoor activities. She is among an estimated 125,000 individuals in the county diagnosed with asthma, with the region seeing a higher-than-average rate of hospitalizations due to the condition.
Bill Magavern of the Coalition for Clean Air noted that Sacramento is now known as the "asthma capital of the West." While air quality officials report a 30% reduction in pollution levels over the past 25 years, clean air advocates stress the need for further measures. They point to mobile sources, such as vehicles, trucks, and railways, as the primary contributors, accounting for 70% of the area's air pollution.
Contributing to the issue is Sacramento's geographical location within a valley, which tends to trap pollutants. Although the city now meets 2008 federal air quality standards, more stringent requirements remain unmet. Air advocates are encouraging residents to reduce driving on Clean Air Day to help improve air quality.
