Half of US is breathing bad air, government warns

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004,Page 6

More than half the US' population lives in or around areas that violate clean air standards, according to a list to be released tomorrow by the federal government.

The list is a result of new federal standards -- the first in more than two decades -- that will sweep beyond traditional smog-filled metropolises like Houston, Los Angeles and New York to encompass smaller cities such as Little Rock, Arkansas, and Birmingham, Alabama, where the air appears relatively clear. In San Antonio, which has already begun measures to combat air pollution, the local government broadcasts warnings telling children not to play outside even on days when the skies are azure blue.

Rural communities will be affected along with at least seven national parks, including the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, Acadia in Maine and Yosemite in California.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/04/14/2003136614

Now * can utter the classic line we have all been waiting for... "We need breathing room!". :evilgrin:

I haven't gotten a single cold since I got a negative ion generator a few years ago...

but i haven't had a single cold in 5 years and i DON'T have a negative ion generator. :shrug:

adulterated food, USA! USA! USA!

... so the OTHER half will be, too!

If they're telling us the air is bad it must be time to buy gas masks.

So, only regular readers of the Taipei Times know of a US Government Warning.