The American Lung Association has given the Kenai Peninsula an “A” grade for air particle pollution. Anchorage also received an “A,” but Fairbanks scored an “F.”
Department of Environmental Conservation Meteorologist Mike Gravier said air quality on the Kenai is almost second to none…
Gravier: “I think ti would be difficult to find a place int he Lower 48 that has air quality as good. The only time there’s pollution on the Kenai Peninsula is like we saw last year when we had the big fire.”
Gravier said those events are rare and short lived. Particle pollution is typically dust in the air or smoke. It’s the smoke that causes health officials the most concern…
Gravier: “That goes straight into your lungs and it’s so small it can actually go through your lungs into your bloodstream and then starts having major impacts on things like your heart, lungs, and this is particularly true for people with asthma or some other sort of pre-existing condition.”
According to the 2015 State of the Air report, There are 1,154 children with asthma on the Kenai Peninsula and 4,058 adults. The rates are comparable in Anchorage.
For more on the Kenai Peninsula’s report, click here.
