Cumberland County in South Central Pennsylvania is a great community for families to grow and prosper. There are a ton of local entertainment spots and the county really offers a variety of everything for its residents. It even ranks highly with education and has many great local youth sports organizations.
Unfortunately it has recently been given a bad grade when it comes to its air quality, according to the American Lung Association, which recently released its State of the Air Report with results that put Cumberland County, PA under a smoggy, and unhealthy cloud. The report actually ranks Cumberland County as the second worst county in the State and #19 on the list of areas for the highest short-term particle pollution.
What is “Short-Term” Particle Pollution?
According to the American Lung Association, short-term particle pollution are spikes in the amount of pollution even if the yearly averages are low. This can be due to our location, industry, the local environment of Cumberland County.
What are you breathing in?
Particles in the air, especially in Cumberland County, that can cause the amount of unhealthy pollution that we seem to be experiencing include smog, dust, dirt, smoke, and chemical particles which are all introduced into the air from both man-made and natural sources. But no matter what the source of the pollution is, it can cause pain from minor discomfort to more severe and disabling effects for many of Cumberland County’s residents.
The American Lung Association released totals on the numbers of residents in Cumberland County who are most at risk and the results are staggering to think about (results in table below).
Populations at Risk in Cumberland County | |
Cardiovascular Disease: | 65,504 |
Children Under 18: | 48,237 |
Adults Age 65 & Over:: | 37,673 |
Diabetes: | 17,853 |
Adult Asthma: | 17,158 |
Childhood Asthma: | 4,838 |
Source: stateoftheair.com |
How can you stay healthy?
The clean-up of the air in Cumberland County isn’t going to be able to be repaired overnight, but everyone can pitch in. The Environmental Protection Acengy published a neat list of ways to reduce air pollution which many of us can do to help make Cumberland County a healthier place to breathe!
Here are some of the ways you can help:
- If you have a woodstove or fireplace, keep it clean and well maintained.
- Buy green electricity. PP&L allows you to choose your electric provider, so get online and research which provider produces electricity with the fewest emissions.
- Have a regular HVAC system planned maintenance performed by an expert heating and air conditioning contractor.
- Switch your standard incandescent light bulbs to CFL or LED bulbs and not only reduce energy usage, but save some money on your utility bills.
- Lower your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees.
- When you need new electronics and appliances, look for ones with the ENERGY STAR sticker. Appliances with these stickers have been certified as environmentally friendly.
- Consider having solar energy installed for your home or invest in renewable energy sources.
Keeping the Inside of Your Home Healthy…
Not only should you be taking steps to help keep the outdoor air quality clean and healthy, you should also be concerned about the quality and healthiness of the air INSIDE your home. Your family should be able to escape the pollutants outdoors when they step inside their home. You wouldn’t want your family to drink dirty, polluted water, so why should the air in your home be any different?
Having a whole house air cleaner or a HEPA filtration system installed in your home is a great way to remove large amounts of indoor air pollutants. These systems are great at reducing the amount of allergens, pollutants, and harmful bacteria in the air that cause many Cumberland County residents great discomfort and respiratory problems throughout the year.
Indoor Air Quality Solutions from SECCO Home Services
We install a variety of options to help reduce the pollutants and to better the quality of air inside your home. From RGF Air Purification Systems for your A/C and heating ductwork, to whole house air cleaning systems that can turn your home into an escape from the outdoor pollutants, you can breathe easier with indoor air quality solutions from SECCO Home Services.
To schedule a call with an Indoor Air Quality Expert or for more information on our indoor air quality services call 717-470-8201 TODAY!
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