Some activists, however, think Smart Growth means little for the city. What we need is an urban-legacy initiative that would invest in where people live. The depths of Baltimore's asthma problem are only now being quantitatively measured. Data available to epidemiologists is limited, but there are a few figures that stand out. A study commissioned by the national Clean Air Task Force and reported on a Web site for state public interest research groups, or PIRGs, estimates that there are 86,000 asthma attacks in metropolitan Baltimore every summer, when air quality is at its worst.
Anecdotal evidence suggests asthma cases are on the rise.
A National Resources Defense Council report blames 861 deaths per year in Baltimore on airborne particulates. Last year, there were seven code reds issued. But it's probably the most pressing problem we face. The city's ongoing tragedy shows little signs of abating, despite heightened awareness. Nearly 85 percent of Baltimore rental properties still contain lead.