A new survey ranks the Providence-New Bedford-Fall River area eighth worst for smog pollution among major U.S. metropolitan areas, with levels exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s eight-hour standard 21 times in an 18-day period in 2003.
The report, produced by Clear the Air and released by the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group, also says that while air quality has improved nationwide in the last three decades, half of all Americans live in counties where air pollution exceeds national health standards for ozone and/or particle pollution. Coal-fired power plants and motor vehicles are the largest sources of these pollutants.
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The report’s authors condemned Bush administration policies that they said are eroding environmental protections to favor the energy industry. Conversely, they praised Gov. Don Carcieri for committing Rhode Island to adopting California’s tough emission standards for new cars and promotion of hybrid and ultra-low-polluting cars.
The full report, titled “Danger in the Air,” is available at www.ripirg.org.
