WOOD COUNTY MAKES SECOND "BAD AIR" LIST - Nine Counties Targeted By American Lung Association

(05/02/2004)
Wood County has made another "bad air" list, along with eight other West Virginia counties.

Hancock County failed all three clean air tests, according to the American Lung Association.

Parkersburg is periodically covered by smog and odorous air, mostly from Mid-Ohio Valley plants. State EPA officials frequently respond to citizen complaints by indicating the air quality is not hazardous.

State officials say that doesn't necessarily mean the air in all the state's other 46 counties is wonderful.

Four counties, Cabell, Kanawha, Ohio and Wood, failed two indicators: ozone pollution and annual particle matter pollution.

Berkeley, Brooke, Marion and Marshall counties each received an F for particle matter pollution.

About 650,000 West Virginians live in those nine counties.

The American Lung Association has said poor air quality increases respiratory problems.