Sarasota County receives D grade for air quality

It's another picture-perfect day here on the Suncoast, but a new report on the area's air quality warns that looks can be deceiving.

It's better than an "F", but Sarasota County Commissioners say it's still a failing grade.

An American Lung Association report has given the county a "D" grade for air quality. It's the third year in row the county has received this grade.

How could this predominantly retirement area be triggering bad air quality?

County employees say there could be a lot of factors, like air currents, vehicle traffic and marine engines.

The "D" grade means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups of people who have asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory related diseases.

There are seven tests sites throughout the county, including one in the city of Sarasota, Lido Beach and two more in Venice.

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