The American Lung Association® State of the Air report comes out each May to provide data from air monitoring devices around the country.

The American Lung Association® of Washington's grades are in this year's report (PDF).

The American Lung Association® of Washington offers solutions of how, you too, can improve our air quality by making decisions that will impact all of us:

• Commute by carpool, vanpool or mass transit. Contact your local transit agency for assistance.
• Replace your gas powered yard equipment with manual or electric equipment.
• Choose a cleaner car. Check EPA's Green Vehicle Guide to find the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs. Sign-up for Zipcar, which is a result of Flexcar and Zipcar merging and they are now one car-sharing program, operating as Zipcar, providing members with easy access to vehicles located near where they work, live, and play.
• Convert an uncertified wood-burning stove or fireplace to natural gas, propane, pellet or EPA-certified appliance. If you use wood, learn clean-burning tips at BurningClean.com .
• Sign-up for Breathe Easy Network, a free email air quality forecast service provided by the American Lung Association® of Washington.

Recently, Puget Sound, as well as other regions in Washington State have embarked on woodstove changeout programs.  One such program in Puget Sound that finished on April 30th saw success in residents replacing old woodstoves and inserts.

The American Lung Association® of Washington working with Puget Sound Clean Air Agency share local efforts to reduce pollutants in Puget Sound and a review of the grades given in the national report with this year's press release.

Review the American Lung Association®'s national report* on ozone air pollution trends nationally and a snapshot of where Washington was with ozone and particle pollution in the past (2004-2006).

For a comparative look at air quality trends in Washington, see the American Lung Association®'s report:

• State of the Air Report and Washington's grades in 2007 (PDF)
• State of the Air Report and Washington's grades in 2006 (PDF).

Retrofitting diesel engines on school buses solves many health issues for children.