BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield has once again been named the worst city in the nation for particle pollution. It's part of a new report just released Wednesday morning from the American Lung Association.
Kern County got a failing grade in the 2013 State of the Air Report. It's a ranking that doesn't come as a surprise, despite efforts to improve conditions and the San Joaquin Valley Air District recently reporting a significant reduction of emissions.
According to the report, Bakersfield is the most polluted city in America, when it comes to short term and annual particulates, leading to an increase in heart attacks stroke and asthma and according to state and federal assessment, costing $6 billion dollars annually in healthcare costs in the San Joaquin Valley.
There is some good news. According to the report, Kern County had ten fewer unhealthy particulate days than in the previous report.
Although air quality is improving, American Lung Association officials say it's still not enough.
American Lung Association senior policy and advocacy director for California bonnie holmes-gen said, "The hardest challenge that we have really in the valley is particle pollution it's very, very difficult. The San Joaquin Valley just does not experience the same levels of reductions as we've been able to achieve in other parts of the state."
The American Lung Association reports the challenge is due to local and mobile emissions including vehicles, equipment and residential wood burning.
After an air quality report released by state regulators, San Joaquin Valley Air Quality District spokesperson Jaime Holt said there is still a long way to go.
"We're all going to have to pitch in to reach these really, very stringent standards coming from the federal government," said Holt.
Holt says using alternate transportation like riding bikes or carpooling, along with adhering to the no burn regulations helps. Despite progress in many areas, all eight of the counties assessed in the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin received a failing grade for the high number of short-term particulate pollution days recorded.
Bakersfield was also ranked third in the nation for worst ozone pollution. Because the air is so poor in the area, drivers pay an additional $19 fee when registering their vehicles.
Kern County got a failing grade in the 2013 State of the Air Report. It's a ranking that doesn't come as a surprise, despite efforts to improve conditions and the San Joaquin Valley Air District recently reporting a significant reduction of emissions.
According to the report, Bakersfield is the most polluted city in America, when it comes to short term and annual particulates, leading to an increase in heart attacks stroke and asthma and according to state and federal assessment, costing $6 billion dollars annually in healthcare costs in the San Joaquin Valley.
There is some good news. According to the report, Kern County had ten fewer unhealthy particulate days than in the previous report.
Although air quality is improving, American Lung Association officials say it's still not enough.
American Lung Association senior policy and advocacy director for California bonnie holmes-gen said, "The hardest challenge that we have really in the valley is particle pollution it's very, very difficult. The San Joaquin Valley just does not experience the same levels of reductions as we've been able to achieve in other parts of the state."
The American Lung Association reports the challenge is due to local and mobile emissions including vehicles, equipment and residential wood burning.
After an air quality report released by state regulators, San Joaquin Valley Air Quality District spokesperson Jaime Holt said there is still a long way to go.
"We're all going to have to pitch in to reach these really, very stringent standards coming from the federal government," said Holt.
Holt says using alternate transportation like riding bikes or carpooling, along with adhering to the no burn regulations helps. Despite progress in many areas, all eight of the counties assessed in the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin received a failing grade for the high number of short-term particulate pollution days recorded.
Bakersfield was also ranked third in the nation for worst ozone pollution. Because the air is so poor in the area, drivers pay an additional $19 fee when registering their vehicles.