Press Release
CLEAN AIR PARTNERSHIP KICKS OFF ANNUAL CAMPAIGN AMID NEWS OF FAILING GRADES FOR OZONE POLLUTION THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS REGION
Results of American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report reinforce the need for area residents to do their share for cleaner air
ST. LOUIS, MO., May 18, 2009... As air quality forecasting gets underway for the summer season, the recent release of the American Lung Association’s 2009 State of the Air report has ushered in more bad news for the St. Louis region. In addition to ranking St. Louis as the 17th worst city in the nation in terms of overall air quality, the report also gave failing grades for ozone pollution to nearly every county in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The news comes as the region prepares to settle into the sizzling days of summer when ozone pollution is typically at its worst, prompting the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership to step up its efforts to remind area residents and businesses to remain steadfast in their voluntary efforts to help reduce the harmful emissions that lead to poor air quality.
“While we continue to make great strides to improve air quality in the region, the State of the Air report demonstrates that we still have a very long way to go,” said Susannah Fuchs, Senior Director of Environmental Health for the American Lung Association of the Central States. “The region’s failing grades for ozone pollution further underscore the critical need for residents and businesses to do their share to help the region breathe easier, especially as environmental issues take on increasing importance nationwide.”
To engage the public in the clean air effort, the Partnership is continuing its work to educate individuals and businesses on the link between “going green” and air quality. From carpooling and using mass transit to recycling and taking steps to conserve energy, the Partnership is focused on demonstrating how the small environmentally-friendly choices we make in our everyday lives can positively impact air quality in the region.
“Many people can easily see how taking cars off the road by using mass transit can reduce emissions, but following the recent service cuts at Metro, the number of transit options in the area has become more limited,” said Fuchs. “While the Missouri House’s recent passage of a bill providing $12 million of transit funding to Metro will restore some service this summer, commuters will still find fewer transit options in the area, making it more important than ever before for area residents to take other steps to reduce emissions. Luckily, there are countless, simple steps we can all take to improve air quality. Easy actions such as carpooling, turning off the lights when leaving the room, choosing to recycle drink containers or changing incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent ones can also play an important role in clearing the air and improving lung health in the region.” added Fuchs.
The Partnership also encourages commuters to help curb emissions by planning their trips using the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) Gateway Guide website at www.gatewayguide.com or its 511 travel information telephone number. Both services provide real-time travel information designed to help commuters avoid traffic tie-ups, highway construction zones and the related unnecessary idling which results in the release of increased emissions into the air.
Area residents had the chance to get additional information on alternative commuting options and other ways to go green and do their share for cleaner air at The Partnership’s sixth-annual Clean Air Festival. Held May 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Kiener Plaza in Downtown St. Louis, the event served as the official kickoff of summer air quality forecasting. Returning exhibitors included the American Lung Association of the Central States, Amtrak, the Asthma & Allergy Foundation, Citizens for Modern Transit, Earthways Center, the Environmental Protection Agency, Madison County Transit, Metro, the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, RideFinders, the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership, St. Louis Regional Clean Cities, SuiteCommute, Toyota Motor Company, the U.S. Green Building Council and WeCar. This year’s event also featured appearances from several new organizations including Ameren UE and Laclede Gas.
“The 2009 State of the Air report has confirmed that air pollution remains an extremely critical concern for our area,” said Fuchs. “And with poor air quality affecting all of us, especially children, the elderly and the thousands of individuals who suffer from asthma and other respiratory concerns, it’s more important than ever to get involved in the clean air effort and there’s no better time than now to get started.” said Fuchs.
To learn more, sign up for daily air quality forecasts or make arrangements for your business to become an official member of The Partnership so you can help your employees go green and do their share for cleaner air at home, at work and on the road, log on to www.cleanair-stlouis.com or call (314) 645-5505 ext. 1007.
The St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership was formed in 1995, led by the American Lung Association, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, Washington University and others, to increase awareness of regional air quality issues and to encourage activities to reduce air pollution emissions.
