GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Unhealthy levels of ozone are a problem across Michigan, putting residents at risk for premature death and other serious health problems, a new report by the American Lung Association concludes.
The organization released its 2016 State of the Air report Wednesday, which analyzed 2013-2015 data from county, state, federal and tribal authorities about ozone and long and short-term particle levels.
Ozone, also known as smog, is created when sunlight reacts with vehicle emissions and other sources. The American Lung Association says smog can irritate the lungs and cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and premature death.
Particle pollution is the mix of solids and liquid droplets floating in the air, which may include dust, dirt, soot and smoke from fires of business and vehicle emissions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Lung Association says particle pollution can affect the lungs and bloodstream, leading to asthma and heart attacks, lung cancer and even premature death.
More than half of U.S. residents live in counties with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution and Michigan is no better, the State of the Air report concluded.
None of Michigan’s 23 counties with data earned a passing grade for their ozone level. In fact, all of them had an “F” grade except for Chippewa County, which received a “D” grade. Among those with a failing grade were Allegan, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa counties.