Report: Spfld. state's smoggiest area

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - There is a new report on air quality in Springfield, which puts Western Massachusetts’ largest city as the smoggiest area in the state.

The report does not come as much of a surprise, because there have been a few studies on the air quality in western Massachusetts before, which have reached similar conclusions.

An American Lung Association study this year gave Hampden, Hampshire, and Berkshire counties a failing grade when it comes to ozone pollution.

This new report will take into account all of last year and this summer. It will also include evidence to show that outdated air quality standards have made the smog problem even worse. In 2008, the Federal Government lowered its threshold for declaring the air unhealthy.

Smog is a harmful air pollutant that can lead to asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses.

The new report, which is being put out by the advocacy group Enviornment Massachusetts will be released at a news conference at 11 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Nuestras Raices Farm in Holyoke.