SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The latest "State of the Air" report from the American Lung Association gives South Dakota mixed results with most counties earning passing grades, but just barely.
Rapid City tied for the 16th cleanest city in the nation but Robert Moffitt with the American Lung Association says some parts of the state are seeing higher levels of ozone pollution.
Moffitt says generally the grades have been pretty good but the one exception was in the Sioux Falls area. He says there were six air quality alerts for ozone and says that was the worst grade for ozone in South Dakota.
Moffitt says ozone is the most widespread pollutant in the county and one of the most dangerous.
He says ozone in the upper atmosphere is great becaue it helps protect the planet from harmful ultraviolet rays. But ozone near the ground is not great at all. He says its a lung irritant much like getting a sunburn on the inside of your lungs.
The report is a snapshot of South Dakota's air quality from 2011 to 2013. A little more than half of all Americans are living in counties with potentially unhealthy levels of air pollution.
(Thanks Greater Dakota News Service)