The residents of Bannock County can take a deep breath.

    The air quality when it comes to particulate matter received a “B” grade from the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air 2013” report released Wednesday.

    The grade was based on 24-hour periods of monitored air quality and reflects at least a three-year period of data. No ranking for ozone, commonly known as smog from vehicle exhaust and industrial operations, was available for counties in Idaho except Ada because monitors are not in place to measure it.

    Ada County received a “B” grade for ozone pollution.

    A look at the Lung Association’s report shows a significant drop in the number of days when particulate pollution is high in Bannock County compared to 2000 — 6.9 fewer days. The same holds true for annual particulate pollution which has dropped from nearly 10 ug/m3 or micrograms per cubic meter of air to 5.2.

    The drops in particulate matter coincide with the closure of FMC’s phosphate plant on the western edge of Pocatello. Although the plant was physically in Power County, the prevailing winds brought particulate pollution into Bannock and Bingham counties.

    According to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Pocatello office, the particulate level in the city’s air was 4 ug/m3 on Wednesday. That level is considered good and well below the level that can result in health hazards for people with respiratory problems.

    The American Lung Association’s report shows the Logan, Utah-Idaho metropolitan area ranked as the 10th-most polluted city in the nation for short-term particle pollution, an improved ranking from last year’s report. 

    Looking at air quality in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Benewah, Franklin, Lemhi and Shoshone counties received “F” grades for short-term particle pollution, because of too many days of unhealthy particle levels. Particle pollution levels can spike dangerously for hours to weeks on end (short-term) or remain at unhealthy levels on average every day (year-round).

      “State of the Air 2013” also finds that ozone levels in Ada County improved, resulting in a B grade. Ozone (smog) is the most widespread air pollutant, created by the reaction of sunlight on emissions from vehicles and other sources. When ozone is inhaled, it irritates the lungs, like a bad sunburn. It can cause immediate health problems that continue days later. Ozone can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma attacks and premature death. 

      “The air in Idaho is certainly cleaner than when we started the ‘State of the Air’ report 14 years ago,” said Jan Flynn, Idaho Director. “But the work is not done — we need to focus on decreasing levels of particle pollution, and we must set stronger health standards for pollutants and cleanup sources of pollution to protect the health of our citizens.” 

      Counties that have unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution, which equates to more than 4 in 10 people (42 percent). For example, “State of the Air 2013” found that Shoshone County had its worst record for the weighted average of days of unhealthy particle pollution levels since the data has been collected, likely due to the many feedlots in the area.      

    The Lung Association led the fight for a new, national air quality standard that strengthened outdated limits on annual levels of particle pollution, announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last December.

    “The evidence is clear that the Clean Air Act delivers significant health benefits,” said Flynn. “Congress needs to continue to ensure that the provisions under the Clean Air Act are protected and are enforced.   EPA and every state must have adequate funding to monitor and protect our citizens from air pollution.”

    A full report for every county in the nation can be found online at www.stateoftheair.org.