According to a study from the American Lung Association, Southwest Florida has some of the cleanest air in the country.
The group’s “State of the Air” report ranked the Cape Coral- Fort Myers area at the top of three lists looking at ozone pollution, short term particle pollution and long term particle pollution.
This means Southwest Florida’s air has little to no smog, smoke or dust.
The Cape Coral- Fort Myers area was also one of only four metro areas nationwide that made it onto all three of their cleanest city lists
Dr. Kurt Goerke with the American Lung Association said this news is a particularly good thing for the area’s elderly population.
“Because of our demographics here in Southwest Florida, it is really a wise decision on retired people’s part to be here because they definitely benefit from the air quality where some of their peers in other areas have a lot of difficulty with it,” he said.
Goerke said geographic qualities, less frequent brushfires and limited manufacturing are part of the reason Southwest Florida got high marks.
“We are really fortunate health-wise because all this spills over into helping us have healthier bodies,” he said. “People don’t think about it, but from the moment they got up this morning they have been breathing. At the American Lung Association we hope that you are breathing and not having to worry about it.”
Goerke said maintaining good air quality here is particularly important because of the area’s large elderly population. He also said good air quality is important for maintaining a vibrant tourism economy.
The Naples- Marco Island metro area also received high air quality marks in the study.
