Press Mention The Knoxville News-Sentinel November 3, 2000
Topical Mention
Smokies' air quality ranked worst of national parks
In this mention
A report by Appalachian Voices ranks Great Smoky Mountains National Park as having the worst air quality among U.S. national parks for the second consecutive year, based on National Park Service data from 1991–1999. The study found the Smokies experienced more than twice as many days of ozone pollution in 1999 than Atlanta, with pollution sources including nitrogen oxides from cars and coal-fired power plants.
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Smokies' air quality ranked worst of national parks
By The Associated Press
BOONE, N.C. - The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is again atop a conservation group's list of national parks with the worst air pollution.
The report released Thursday by Appalachian Voices rated air pollution in parks based on National Park Service data from 1991 to 1999. The study created an air pollution index combining factors such as ozone, acid precipitation and sulfates.
The Smokies ranked first with the dirtiest air for the second consecutive year, with Shenandoah National Park of Virginia and Mammoth Cave National Park of Kentucky tied for second. Next were Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park of California and Acadia National Park in Maine.
"The surprising thing is that four of the five worst parks are right here in the East," said Harvard Ayers, an anthropology professor at Appalachian State University and author of the report. The study found the park had more than twice as many days of ozone pollution in 1999 than Atlanta, which is considered to have the worst ozone pollution east of the Mississippi. Ozone, formed when pollution and sunlight combines, can damage plants and lung tissues. The pollution includes nitrogen oxides, created by cars and coal-fired power plants.