Recently, the largest ever study of the American air quality was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA’s National-Scale Air Assessment or NATA.
The study found that people who lived in and around large cities New York and Los Angeles, had increased risks of cancer due to air pollution. However, it was also found that some rural areas like Mississippi and Kentucky also presented a high risk of cancer to those who lived there.
It was found in the study that the community of residents that faced the highest risk of cancer is Cerritos in Los Angeles, California. This residential areas is bounded by two freeways and has a lot of air pollution taking place in its vicinity. Those living in this community have increased risks for cancer of 1,200 in every 1 million people, according to the EPA, compared to the national average of 36 in every 1 million people.
While on one hand, the study reveals localities that are at the highest risk of cancer due to air pollution, it also reveals the places that present the lowest risk of cancer. According to the EPA’s report, the least toxic air in the country is found at Kalawao County in Hawaii and Golden Valley County in Montana. Those with the lowest risk of cancer from air toxins were Coconino County, Arizona and Lyon County, Nevada.
Dave Guinnup, a member of the EPA and leader of the team which performed the assessments for toxic air pollutants said, “Air toxic risks are local. They are a function of the sources nearest to you.” He added, “If you are out in the Rocky Mountains, you are going to be closer to 2 in a million. If you are in an industrial area with a lot of traffic, you are going to closer to 1100 in 1 million.”
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