Santa Fe Tops List For Air

New Mexico showed mixed results in the American Lung Association’s 2012 air quality report, with Santa Fe listed as the city with the nation’s cleanest air, while Las Cruces for the first time joined the 25 cities most fouled by short-term particle pollution.

Santa Fe ranked as the cleanest city in the nation in all three categories: annual particle pollution, short-term particle pollution and ozone pollution, according to the report, “State of the Air 2012.”

Albuquerque made the list of the 25 cleanest cities for both short-term and annual particle pollution.

Particle pollution refers to a mix of very tiny solid and liquid particles in the air. The particles are so small that they appear as a haze. Short-term particle pollution refers to short peaks within a 24-hour period that can result in long-term lung damage. Annual particle pollution refers to year-round particle levels.

Particle pollution is caused by “mechanical sources,” such as mining, industrial and agricultural production, and chemical sources such as burnt fuels.

Five New Mexico counties — Santa Fe, Sandoval, Luna, Eddy and Lea — were listed among the cleanest in the nation for ozone air pollution.

Ozone, a dangerous and widespread polluting gas, is produced when fossil fuels are burned. Ozone can cause asthma attacks, shortness of breath and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections.

All the pollution is particularly dangerous for people with chronic lung diseases.
— This article appeared on page C01 of the Albuquerque Journal