PRESS RELEASE: May 5, 2015
NATIONAL CLEAN AIR MONTH HIGHLIGHTS FLORIDA'S TOP AIR
QUALITY
~Enjoy Florida’s many outdoor activities while breathing air that's among the country's cleanest~
TALLAHASSEE –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is celebrating May as Clean Air Month with a proclamation by Governor Rick Scott that recognizes Florida's air as among the nation's cleanest.
Florida
proudly boasts 171 state parks and trails, 35 state forests and hundreds of
city and county parks that provide an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities. Breathing clean air is a critical component to enjoying the
wonders these places provide Floridians and visitors.
"In
Florida, we are fortunate to breathe some of the cleanest air in the country," said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. "I am proud of the department’s efforts to curb air pollution across the state so that we can enjoy the many outdoor activities available to us.”
Emissions of key industrial pollutants contributing to the formation of ozone and fine particulate matter continue to decline in Florida, a trend that has existed for years. For example, since 2010 power plant emissions of two of these pollutants, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, have decreased 37 percent.
"Clean Air Month is a time to
celebrate Florida's air quality," said Justin Green, director of the
Division of Air Resource Management. "Thanks to hard work by local and state air program professionals, investments in our air monitoring network and new technology, residents and visitors can be confident they are breathing clean air."
According to the most recent "State
of the Air" report from the American Lung Association, Florida experienced zero unhealthy days from ozone pollution
during the three-year study period. In addition, Florida boasts 28 of the cleanest
cities nationwide.
The department's Spatial Air Quality System allows web users to access updated air quality data as
reported by its statewide network of air quality monitors. Additional
information about Florida's air quality is available through the department's Division of Air
Resource Management website.
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