According to a new study by the American Lung Association, "six out of 10 Americans - 186.1 million people - live in areas where air pollution levels endanger lives."

The 2009 "State of the Air" Report said that about 60 % of the people live in areas where the quality of air is so poor that it could cause serious health problems and endanger lives. The report said that despite many cities having made improvements in air quality in the past decade, the air pollution lingers at unhealthy levels in almost every major city.

The cities that made it to the top five slots of the top ten most polluted U. S. cities were in descending order from the top Bakersfield, Calif. followed by Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa. with Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif. coming in at third place. Visalia-Porterville, Calif. was fourth and Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, Ala. made fifth place.

The ten cleanest U. S. cities were Cheyenne, Wyo. In top place followed by Santa Fe-Espanola, N. M. Honolulu, Hawaii was third with Great Falls, Mont. and Flagstaff, Ariz. at fourth and fifth place.

Ed Burton, State Conservationist of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service in California said, "This is a pivotal time for agriculture and air quality. The focus on energy and climate is creating more challenges -- and more opportunities -- for agriculture than ever before. At this meeting we will address technical issues associated with agriculture and forestry."

The meeting convenes at Fresno which has been listed as the second most polluted city in the U. S. for short-term particle pollution, and seventh most pollution nationwide for overall pollution.

The leading cause of pollution in these farm cities is said to be farming which includes emissions from diesel-powered farm machinery, dust by those machines, and residues of pesticides and herbicides.

Among other contributing factors for pollution was geography in leading to accumulations of toxins and in areas where low-income people and some racial and ethnic groups live.

The Task Force will examine how best to use funding from a $10.9 million assistance package to reduce air pollution including ways that farm operations can help reduce air pollution and toxic emissions.

The American Lung Association's recommends simple actions everyone can take to help reduce air pollution, "drive less; don't burn wood or trash; use less electricity; and make sure local school systems require clean school buses."