Noticias
y campañas
de la OCA
en español
Take a moment and think of western Kansas:
Pure prairies, big blue skies, the moan of the wind, smog.
Yes, smog.
Unhealthy ozone levels have arrived in one of America's least populated areas, transported by the wind from bigger cities in states such as Texas, Oklahoma and possibly Colorado.
"Ozone pollution in western Kansas?" asked Hardy Howard, city administrator of WaKeeney, the Trego County seat where the only ozone air monitor west of Hutchinson is located. "From what?"
Indeed, Trego County, which has 900 square miles of land, has a population of a little more than 3,000, so there are no traffic jams there. No major industry, either - just cattle and such.
But government data show that during summer months, ozone sometimes hit unhealthy levels.
That could affect residents, especially at-risk groups such as babies and youngsters, older folks and people with respiratory problems.
It's also a concern for those monitoring ozone problems in the region. "There's nothing that is out there," said Stephanie Cole, spokesperson for the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club. "That is disturbing."
Cole said air-quality problems in Wichita and Kansas City already were well-known but that Trego County should sound an alarm.
"I think this should be an eye-opener that we have a serious air pollution problem, and we should be looking for solutions," she said.
Full Story: http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/548272.html