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Villaraigosa Celebrates! LA is the 4th Air Polluted City in U.S.

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When it comes to worst air pollution in the country, Los Angeles is no longer number one and depending on how you look at it, that's a good thing. "I am pleased that this year's State of the Air Report shows that our efforts are working and our air pollution is down," Mayor Villaraigosa said at a morning press conference. "We are showing the world that we can transform LA into the cleanest and greenest big city in the nation." Positive spin? Sure, but even baby steps are good. Even though the ranking given to LA today is way low, we've dropped particle pollution levels by 40 percent over the past five years and dropping its ozone smog levels by more than one quarter over the last decade, according to the 10th annual American Lung Association State of the Air report. However, we are still number one for ozone badness.

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