Latest news with #Hensil
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pittsburgh metro area's air quality is among worst in country, American Lung Association report says
The American Lung Association's annual 'State of the Air' report says that the air in the Pittsburgh metro area is among the most polluted in the country. The area, which includes Pittsburgh, Weirton and Steubenville, ranked 16th worst particle pollution, returning it to the list of the 25 most polluted cities. It also ranked 12th worst nationwide for year-round particle pollution, with the report saying 2023's wildfire smoke contributed to poorer air quality. 'The air pollutants highlighted in this report are widespread and pose a risk to everyone's health. Both ozone and particle pollution can lead to premature death and cause serious health issues such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, and even problems with cognitive function later in life. Particle pollution can also increase the risk of lung cancer,' said Elizabeth Hensil, Director of Advocacy in Pennsylvania, for the American Lung Association. Throughout the report, the Lung Association grades exposure to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone air pollution, also known as smog, and year-round and short-term spikes in particle pollution, also known as soot, from 2021 to 2023. The report says that Allegheny County is the area's worst county for year-round average level of particle pollution, receiving a failing grade for pollution levels above the federal standards. The metro area earned a D grade for smog, ranking 90th worst in the nation. 'We're urging Pennsylvania policymakers to take action to improve our air quality. We're also calling on everyone to support the vital work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),' Hensil said. The report found that 156 million people in the U.S. live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution, and 42.5 million people live in areas with failing grades for all three measures. You can read the full State of the Air 2025 report below: State of the Air 2025 by WPXI on Scribd Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
American Lung Association releases 2025 'State of Tobacco Control' report
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – The American lung Association released its annual 'State of Tobacco Control' report Wednesday, and the grades weren't ideal in Pennsylvania. 'We received an F here in Pennsylvania by the American Lung Association for the amount of money that we put towards prevention and control programs,' Elizabeth Hensil, Pennsylvania's advocacy director for the American Lung Association, said. The state is spending around $21 million on those programs. The CDC says the Commonwealth should be spending around $140 million. However, tobacco has a rich history in Lancaster County. 'The history dates back 150-plus years,' Greg Seamster, the senior vice president for Lancaster Leaf Tobacco Company, said. The company says the county generates around $50 million in revenue annually on tobacco. Some farmers rely on the crop to make a living. 'It's the most profitable product they can grow on their farm per acre,' Seamster said. Fertile soil makes Lancaster County a growing hot spot. 'The soil here is very unique and rich and produces good yields for the farmer,' Seamster said. The tobacco raised by farmers in the county is used all over the world according to Seamster. Lancaster Leaf supplies many of the major cigar manufacturers in the U.S. with filler, binder, and wrapper from the U.S. and other origins. In addition to domestic supply, Lancaster exports filler, binder, and wrapper to international cigar manufacturers. The Lung Association says tobacco products – some unregulated by the Federal Drug Administration – have become an addiction for kids. Most of the use being e-cigarettes and vapes. 'One thing that is really striking is that the high school tobacco use rate in Pennsylvania right now is 19.7%,' Hensil said. The Lung Association is hopeful to get legislation passed that would end smoking inside places like casinos. 'We really have concerns about the employees that are working at these places and the casino workers that really have nowhere to go,' Hensil said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
