To subscribe, call 904.829.6586 Order Home Delivery Online Order or renew daily and Sunday home delivery of the Record for one year. Escambia County leads Florida in ground-level ozone, according to an American Lung Association report that has prompted a business leader to seek state and federal reviews of the area's pollution problems. Escambia County leads Florida in ground-level ozone, according to an American Lung Association report that has prompted a business leader to seek state and federal reviews of the area's pollution problems. Federal statistics released earlier showed Escambia also is No. 1 in the state and 18th nationally in toxic chemical emissions and seventh nationally in toxic air emissions. The Lung Association's report issued Tuesday is based on ozone measurements in 1997-99.
Ozone can trigger asthma attacks and aggravate bronchitis and emphysema.
Some physicians suspect air and water pollution may contribute to high rates of some cancers, birth defects and other problems in the Pensacola area. Fetterman, a retired Navy vice admiral, is worried that the pollution, and the attention it has generated, is adversely affecting the area's image. At least one business has reconsidered plans to expand local operations. There is no way I could ever ethically recruit a family here with the environmental issues being so questionable,'' said Handley, who moved to Gulf Breeze in neighboring Santa Rosa County three months ago because of worries about Pensacola's pollution. Escambia County Commissioner Mike Bass, meanwhile, has proposed creating a team of industry representatives, health experts, academicians and citizens to look for ways to reduce air pollution.