Cities Get 'F' For Air Quality

The American Lung Association has failed 2/3rds of California's counties in a recent study of levels of smog and soot.

1 minute read

May 4, 2009, 12:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"Altogether, 38 counties, mostly grouped in Southern California and the Central Valley, were given failing grades for their levels of the two air pollutants. Another 16 - including San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Marin and Monterey - received an "A" under the lung association's 10th annual "State of the Air 2009" report.

"Although there have been some improvements, the health and lives of millions of Californians are at risk because of our dirty air," said Dr. Tony Gerber, a San Francisco physician and volunteer with the lung association, during a telephone news briefing Tuesday.

While local air quality officials welcomed the scrutiny, they also quibbled with how the grades were measured: The study lumped together areas with heavy smog, such as Los Angeles, with counties that had moderate levels of the pollutants, such as Santa Clara, giving both an 'F.'"

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 in San Jose Mercury News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

Rendering of autonomous cargo train moving across bridge across river in wooded area between Texas and Mexico.

Trump Approves Futuristic Automated Texas-Mexico Cargo Corridor

The project could remove tens of thousands of commercial trucks from roadways.

June 17 - FreightWaves

Rendering of white three-story single-stair building in Austin, Texas with staircase in the middle.

Austin's First Single Stair Apartment Building is Officially Underway

Eliminating the requirement for two staircases in multi-story residential buildings lets developers use smaller lots and more flexible designs to create denser housing.

June 17 - Building Design & Construction

MARTA bus with Atlanta skyline in background

Atlanta Bus System Redesign Will Nearly Triple Access

MARTA's Next Gen Bus Network will retool over 100 bus routes, expand frequent service.

June 17 - Mass Transit