Mabel the Maple: A Timeline

April 16, 2013

Air Pollution in Cincinnati

When you mention to locals how polluted the air is here, they rarely engage. They seem bemused or disinterested, or they’ll simply talk about how much pollen there is and how it aggravates allergies. But “State of the Air,” a new study by the American Lung Association revealed today, shows that in terms of the number of people at risk year-round from ozone pollution, the Cincinnati area ranks 14th among all urban areas in the nation (San Diego is even worse at No. 11, and Los Angeles is, of course, No. 1). In terms of the number of people at risk from year-round particle pollution, things here are even more bleak: Cincinnati ranks 10th in the nation (with Los Angeles 4th and San Diego not among the worst 25.)

Yet not only is there no discussion about air pollution here, there are no visible efforts to reduce it in any way. Long, inefficient stoplights and a complete lack of commuter incentives and light-rail transportation are characteristic of the Cincy metro area. So our air quality is certain to get worse for years into the future.

It’s called denial.