Automobiles, factories and other pollution sources are creating high concentrations of toxic air pollutants in nearly 600 U.S. neighborhoods, according to new data released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Residents in these neighborhoods have increased chances of developing cancer, exceeding 100 in 1 million–compared to the nationwide average of 36 in 1 million.
That nationwide average has decreased from 41.5 in 1 million since the last analysis in 2006. The counties with the least toxic air are Kalawao County, Hawaii, and Golden Valley County, Montana.
But neighborhoods in Los Angeles and Madison County, Illinois have risk levels higher than 1,000 in 1 million.
"If we are in between 10 in 1 million and 100 in 1 million we want to look more deeply at that. If the risk is greater than 100 in 1 million, we don’t like that at all … we want to investigate that risk and do something about it," said Kelly Rimer, an environmental scientist with the EPA, in an interview with the Associated Press on Tuesday.
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