American Lung Association ranks Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie areas among worst in air quality

By TIM SPEARS
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

The American Lung Association ranks Indianapolis among the most air polluted cities in the U.S.

State of the Air is the American Lung Association’s (ALA) annual report card on air quality based on pollution data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The report ranks the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie region 11th worst in year-round particle pollution out of 208 metropolitan areas. The ALA gave a grade of “F” to Marion County’s air quality when considering high ozone days, 24-hour particle pollution, and annual air pollution.

“What that means in real world terms is far too many residents are being forced to breathe unhealthy air,” said Mike Seilback, vice president of state public policy for the ALA.

According to the ALA, year-round exposure to particle pollution can lead to increased risk of asthma, fetal and infant mortality, and lung cancer.

The report comes as Indiana is reducing access to Medicaid, by increasing regulation and passing new legislation limiting the number of people allowed to enroll in the Healthy Indiana Plan.

“We need to make sure that people have the healthcare they need,” Seilback said. “This is a life-or-death discussion.”

The ALA is advocating against Medicaid cuts at the state and federal level.

“We should do everything to protect our residents, not make it harder to stay on healthcare,” Seilback said.

According to the State of the Air report, 46 percent of Americans are living in areas with failing grades for ozone or particle pollution.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/health-spotlight/american-lung-association-ranks-indy-among-worst-in-air-quality.