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Kentuckians split on air quality issues

Half are either very or somewhat concerned

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 26, 2013) — More than half of Kentucky adults (51 percent) are either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the air quality in their community. However, nearly half (48 percent) the adults in the commonwealth do not change their activities when an air quality alert is issued.

More than half of Kentucky adults (51 percent) are either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the air quality in their community.
More than half of Kentucky adults (51 percent) are either very concerned or somewhat concerned about the air quality in their community.

Those are among the findings of the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) which focuses on the issue of air quality.

KHIP highlights include:

♦ More than half (56 percent) of women are very concerned or somewhat concerned with the quality of air compared to slightly less than half (46 percent) of men concerned with the issue.

♦ Just two in 10 (21 percent) said they change or limit their activities a lot when air quality alerts are issued.

♦ Three in 10 (32 percent) Kentucky adults never turn their car’s engine off when waiting in their car and not moving, as in a traffic jam, train crossing or drive-through.

♦ Including those who never turn off their cars, more than six in 10 (61 percent) said they wait at least four minutes before turning off their car’s engine when waiting in the car and not moving. Experts recommend turning off a waiting car’s engine after just 10 seconds in order to save gas and limit emissions.

“The quality of our air impacts all of us, but is particularly important for sensitive groups, such as children with asthma. When an air quality alert is issued, we can protect ourselves and our families by avoiding heavy exertion and limiting outdoor activities” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. “We can also do our part to limit emissions and protect our neighbors by turning off our car’s engine while we are waiting.”

The KHIP was funded by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. The poll was conducted Sept. 20 through Oct. 14 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults from throughout Kentucky was interviewed by telephone, including landlines and cell phones. The poll has a margin of error of ±2.5 percent.