Group ranks LI, NYC as smoggiest in state

New York City and Long Island are the smoggiest major metropolitan areas in the state, according to a new independent report.

The Environment New York report used Environmental Protection Agency air quality data to rank the nation's smoggiest regions of more than 1 million people, with New York tied at 16 and Nassau-Suffolk tied at 19. The nation's worst was Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.

Unsafe levels of smog that exceed EPA standards can cause asthma attacks and respiratory illnesses in children and senior citizens. However, the report's scientists think the EPA's standards are outdated and too low.

According to the report, "Danger in the Air: Unhealthy Air Days in 2010 and 2011," Long Island had 13 days of unsafe levels of smog and New York City had 14 days.

Environment New York is one of 29 state chapters in Environment America, which lobbies for stricter air and water quality standards.

Eric Whalen, Environment New York's field organizer, said outdated federal air-quality standards exposed New Yorkers "unknowingly to dangerous air quality and that those at risk were never alerted to the unhealthy air levels."

Peggy M. Shepard, executive director of We Act for Environmental Justice in West Harlem, said elected officials are not working hard enough on tougher air quality standards. She said the Obama administration "caved to business pressures" to delay stricter standards until 2013.

Defending the White House's decision to delay enacting tougher air-quality standards, EPA adminstrator Lisa P. Jackson said earlier this month: "This administration has put in place some of the most important safeguards for clean air in U.S. history." She cited reductions of mercury pollution from power plants and tougher carbon pollution standards for cars and trucks.