Jean MacRae quoted in CNN article on Bangor’s clean air rating
Jean MacRae, an associate professor in the 91 Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Mitchell Center faculty fellow, was recently quoted in a discussing the American Lung Association’s “grim indication of the deterioration of air quality nationwide.” Bangor, Maine, was reported as the last city standing on all three of the ALA’s “cleanest cities” lists.
According to the ALA report, Bangor has zero days of unhealthy ozone and short-term particle pollution, and some of the lowest year-round concentrations of dangerous particle pollution in the country.
Dr. MacRae noted that a few factors sets Bangor apart from much of the rest of the country. Benefits include weather systems, a high concentration of forest land that filters the air, a good distance from polluting industries, and a population of only about 33,000, which limits pollution from cars.