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Bay Area Coastal Air Improves, But Inland Air Still Problematic

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- A national report card says that overall the Bay Area's air quality is steadily improving, but the inland counties still get a failing grade for having too much ozone in the air.

KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:

Cars and trucks are still spewing too much pollution into our air, says the American Lung Association's annual State of the Air report, part of the reason Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano Counties still get a grade of "F" for high ozone levels.

"At this point, anything that's 'easy' has been done, what we need is really to transition away from petroleum fuels," said Bonnie Holmesgen with the ALA.

She said that we would be getting better air grades if our cities were more transit and bicycle friendly.

Lung Association President and CEO Jane Warner said LA and Bakersfield are America's most polluted cities, and in fact eight of the ten cities with the dirtiest air are in California.

"Air pollution is making people sick and cutting lives short," said Warner.

The good news is that the Bay Area has fewer polluted days now, and the coastal counties, get a grade of A.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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