Mass. air doesn’t pass test

Rachel Murphy of Cambridge speaks at the State House regarding the “State of Air.”

Air quality in Massachusetts is improving; and to keep it that way, the Clean Air Act needs to be protected.

That’s what leaders from the American Lung Association and state said yesterday at the release of the association’s report “State of the Air 2011.”

“The Clean Air Act is working. We must fight to keep the Clean Air Act strong,” said Jeffrey Seyler, of the American Lung Association of New England.

Seyler urged state politicians to help fight for level funding of the Department of Environmental Protection so the agency can continue to enforce the act.

“We are at the nation’s tailpipe here in Massachusetts, and we get a lot of emission coming this way — especially from the Midwest,” said state Rep. Lori Ehrlich. “I don’t want to see us lose this ground.”

Rachel Murphy of Cambridge said her asthmatic daughter has coughing fits that last for hours, which the association said can be linked to particle pollution. The asthma rate in New England is highest in the country.