Ozone acts as a powerful respiratory irritant at the levels frequently found in most of the nation's urban areas during summer months. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing, and coughing. A study of a sample of longtime residents of Los Angeles, which has the highest and most frequent ozone problem in the nation, found that the group had a higher-than-expected loss of lung function over time.
Rank
City
1.
Ames-Boone, Iowa
2.
Bellingham, Wash.
3.
Bloomington-Normal, Ill.
4.
Boise City-Nampa, Idaho
5.
Brunswick, Ga.
6.
Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.
7.
Carson City, Nev.
8.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
9.
Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
10.
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa-Ill.
11.
Fort Polk South-De Ridder, La.
12.
Decatur, Ill.
13.
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Palm Coast, Fla.
14.
Des Moines-Newton-Pella, Iowa
15.
Duluth, Minn.-Wis.
16.
Eugene-Springfield, Ore.
17.
Fargo-Wahpeton, N.D.-N.M.
18.
Farmington, N.M.
19.
Gadsden, Alaska
20.
Gainesville, Fla.
21.
Honolulu, Hawaii
22.
Jackson-Yazoo City, Miss.
23.
Laredo, Tex.
24.
Lincoln, Nebr.
25.
Logan, Utah-Idaho
Source: State of the Air: 2007, American Lung Association.
