The
short answer is "not very." Charleston recently received
a rating of "F" from the American Lung Association
for levels of particulate matter in the air that we're breathing.
From the EPA
website:
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| Size of particulate matter compared
to a human hair. Click the image for a larger view. |
"Particulate matter," also
known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of
extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution
is made up of a number of components, including acids (such
as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil
or dust particles.
The size of particles is directly linked to their potential
for causing health problems. EPA is concerned about particles
that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller because those
are the particles that generally pass through the throat and
nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect
the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. EPA groups
particle pollution into two categories:
- "Inhalable coarse particles," such
as those found near roadways and dusty industries, are larger
than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter.
- "Fine particles," such
as those found in smoke and haze, are 2.5 micrometers in
diameter and smaller. These particles can be directly emitted
from sources such as forest fires, or they can form when
gases emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles
react in the air.
The primary sources of particulate pollution
are coal-burning power plants and diesel engines. In Charleston,
the largest contributor to particulate pollution is the port,
contributing via the diesel engines on the container ships that
dock here and the tens of thousands of trucks that deliver and
carry away the cargo.
Particle pollution is responsible for a wide
array of health concerns, especially in children, including but
not limited to: asthma, decreased lung function, chronic bronchitis,
irregular heartbeat, and premature death in people with heart
or lung disease.
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SPA President Bernie Grosclose doesn't think there are very many trucks on the highways:
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