Web campaign aims to clean up Clark County air

Area transportation officials recently launched an Internet campaign to help clean up the air in Clark County.

The Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee has developed a website — CareForYourAir.org — dedicated to educating the public on ways it can reduce air pollution.

“We just want to offer up tips and step up our public education on the clean air program,” said TCC Transportation Planner Glen Massie.

Massie said the website offers information about air pollution, particulate matter and smog.

“It also offers tips on how people can car pool, ride the bus or cycle and walk and do different things (outdoors) as well as things they can do at home to save money and save the environment,” Massie said.

Massie said the TCC was in the process of developing the website before the American Lung Association released its State of the Air 2015 report that indicated Clark County’s air quality has improved, but again earned a failing grade in one category.

The lung association’s State of the Air report grades cities and counties affected by the most-widespread types of air pollution such as ozone “smog” and particle pollution.

Clark County received an “F” from the lung association because of the smog in the area, but received an A for particle pollution.

A local organization that monitors air quality in six counties in the region, including Clark County, disagreed with the findings.

“We feel like things are getting better, so we don’t necessarily agree with the ‘F’ rating for Clark County,” Brian Huxtable, a spokesman for Regional Air Pollution Control Agency, has told the Springfield News-Sun.

Ohio lung association spokeswoman Linda Diamond explained that Clark County saw an improvement as the number of high ozone days dropped from 16 since the 2014 State of the Air report to 12 in the 2015 report.

“Those are still both an ‘F’ in rating, but at least it’s getting better, so that’s a good thing. Your high particle pollution is not as much of a problem as the high ozone,” Diamond has said.

The report looked at levels of ozone and particle pollution, or soot, across the U.S. from 2011-13 and gave most counties in Ohio failing grades. Cincinnati was ranked 23rd in the top 25 ozone polluted cities, according to the report.

Nearly 138.5 million people — almost 44 percent of the nation — live where pollution levels are often too dangerous to breathe, according to the report.

Two Air Pollution Advisories have been issued so far this year by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, on May 8 and June 11. The advisories were in effect in Clark, Greene, Miami and Montgomery counties.

Massie said TCC officials are getting the word out about the campaign by giving out information at the local Summer Arts Festival and National Trail Parks and Recreation events.

He also said officials plan to offer education programs with area employers about the benefits of ride sharing and other ways to improve the air quality.

Massie said the TCC is also working closely with the Columbus chapter of the lung association.

“We’re trying to educate the public on what we can do to reduce the pollution,” Massie said.

Massie said the air quality locally is impacted by the quality of air in neighboring counties.

Clark County Health Commissioner Charles Patterson has said Clark County’s failing grades in ozone days can be explained because the county is “downwind” from Dayton’s manufacturing and auto and truck traffic.

“Clean up Montgomery County air and you clean up Clark County air,” Patterson has said.

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