It’s the kind of news one literally chokes on: the Eugene-Springfield area ranks in the top three worst metropolitan areas in the U.S. for air quality.
The American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report puts the neighboring cities third worst for annual – and second worst – for 24-hour particle pollution.
Matt Sorensen is with the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency. He says the report is based on county–wide data from the previous three years, which includes Oakridge, a rural community that sees wildfires in the summer, and lots of wood-burning stove usage in winter…