Annual State of the Air Report Released Today
Grades States on Air Quality

(Tulsa, OK) April 29, 2009 – The air quality in Tulsa hovers at levels dirty enough to endanger lives, according to the 10th annual American Lung Association State of the Air report released today. Tulsa County earned an F for ozone pollution, a C for short-term particle pollution and a Pass for annual particle pollution.

“Taking decisive action to clean our air must be a top public health priority,” said Sara Dreiling, Chief Executive Officer for the American Lung Association of the Central States. “Our low grades for ozone and particle pollution mean that the health and lives of individuals in Tulsa are at risk. Now is the time to step up our response.”

The State of the Air report includes a national air quality “report card” that assigns A-F grades to communities across the country and ranks cities and counties most affected by the three most widespread types of pollution (ozone—or smog, annual particle pollution, and 24-hour particle pollution levels). The report also details trends for the 25 most polluted cities. Grades for the 1,000 counties with air pollution monitors can be found by typing in the zip code at www.stateoftheair.org.

The report addresses ozone (smog) pollution, the most widespread form of air pollution. Ozone pollution immediately irritates the lungs when inhaled, resulting in something like a bad sunburn. The health effects of breathing it can be immediate. Ozone can cause wheezing, coughing, and asthma attacks. Breathing ozone pollution can even shorten lives. The ozone grades incorporate the new national air quality standard for ozone, adopted in March 2008. This standard recognizes that even lower levels of ozone can be more harmful than previously thought.

The second portion of the report grades particle pollution. Particle pollution is a toxic mix of microscopic soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols. It is the most dangerous and deadly of the outdoor air pollutants that are widespread in America. Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of early death, heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits for asthma and cardiovascular disease. Particle pollution also affects how children’s lungs grow and function.

The national State of the Air report finds that 6 out of 10 Americans --186.1 million people -- live in areas where air pollution levels endanger lives. State of the Air 2009 acknowledges substantial progress against air pollution in many areas of the country, but finds nearly every major city still burdened by air pollution. Despite America’s growing “green” movement, the air in many cities became dirtier.

“This should be a wake up call, that we can no longer consider air pollution a nuisance but rather a major threat to health right here in Tulsa,” Dreiling said. “We need to renew our commitment to providing healthy air for all our citizens—a commitment the United States made almost 40 years ago when Congress passed the Clean Air Act.”

The American Lung Association calls specifically for clean-up of coal-fired power plants, existing diesel engines, and ocean-going vessels, measures that can reduce some of the largest sources of pollution. Cleaning up these sources can also reduce global warming.

Visit www.lungusa.org to see local air quality grades and to get involved by sending messages to Congress and Administration officials about taking action to protect the air we breathe.

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According to the May 2009 newsletter from Meadowcreek United Methodist Church, Brian Mangan (now Associate Pastor of the First United Methodist Church In Broken Arrow) will be their Collinsville pastor starting June 7, 2009. Mangan comes to Collinsville with his wife Gail and 3-year old Jeane and 17 years experience in the ministry.

Dr. James Buskirk has been the Collinsville pastor since the death of Rev. Tommy Seale in July 2008.