How polluted is your air? American Lung Association report identifies the most polluted places in the U.S.

The American Lung Association's newly released "State of the Air 2009" report finds that six out of 10 Americans live in areas where air pollution levels endanger human life.

The 10th edition of the report ranks cities and counties affected by the three most common types of pollution: ozone, annual particle pollution, and 24-hour particle pollution. Three California cities—Los Angeles, Bakersfield, and Fresno—are in the top 10 list in all three categories. Cities with the cleanest skies include Cheyenne, Wyoming; Fargo, North Dakota; and Honolulu. (The map shows the most polluted U.S. cities by year-round particle pollution.)

"This should be a wake-up call. We know that air pollution is a major threat to human health," said Stephen J. Nolan, national board chairman of the American Lung Association. "When 60 percent of Americans are left breathing air [that's] dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, to shape how kids' lungs develop, and to kill, air pollution remains a serious problem."

While power plants, diesel engines, and ocean-going vessels are among the biggest sources of air pollution, house paint is also a source. "By far, people painting their houses is the largest source category of emissions under our regulatory jurisdiction," Naveen Berry, planning and rules manager at California's South Coast Air Quality Management District, said in our March 2009 report on interior paint, which covered levels of volatile organic compounds in finishes.

To curb pollution, the ALA recommends you drive less, lobby schools to use cleaner buses, and not burn wood and trash.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Find out how to protect yourself from air pollution, and get the facts on air purifiers.

Buzzword: Greenflushing

What it means. Greenwashing applies to companies that describe themselves or their products as environmentally friendly when they're really not. Greenflushing is the term to use when it comes to toilets: Manufacturers tout the water efficiency of their commodes, but for some toilets to work effectively, you might actually have to flush twice, using much more water than the toilet maker intended.

Why the buzz? The Energy Policy Act of 1992 reduced the maximum flush volume for residential toilets from 3.5 gallons per flush (gpf) to 1.6 gpf. In 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program established a standard of 1.28 gpf for high-efficiency toilets. Models that meet this threshold in third-party testing carry the WaterSense label, similar to Energy Star qualification for appliances, lighting, and electronics.

Today, companies are touting the water efficiency of their toilets. For instance, the manufacturer of one model we're testing for our August 2009 report on toilets claims the commode will use up to 6,000 gallons less water each year than a 1.6-gpf model. And some manufacturers are marketing the water-saving potential of dual-flush models, which are designed to use 0.8 or 1.1 gpf for liquid waste and 1.6 gpf for solid waste. But as we've found, companies might be engaging in a bit of greenflushing.

In our liquid- and solid-waste tests, some dual-flush models have had difficulty flushing effectively. In the real world, that means you might have to flush twice and that these toilets consume more water than they should. The claimed savings have, literally, gone down the drain.

Note that many of the single-flush toilets we're testing have been excellent or very good at removing solid and liquid waste alike, with a few doing the job using 1.28 gpf, and one using 1.1 gpf.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Look for the full report on toilets in the August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in July. In the meantime, see our buying guide on toilets.

By the Numbers: U.S. home-ownership rate drops to lowest level since 2000

67.3 percent

Rate of home ownership in the first quarter of 2009, down from the peak of 69.1 percent in the first quarter of 2005 and the lowest since the second quarter of 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Here's how the home-ownership rate varies among age groups:
Under 35 years: 39.8 percent.
35 to 44 years: 65.7 percent.
45 to 54 years: 74.6 percent.
55 to 64 years: 79.8 percent.
65 years and over: 80.4 percent.

Essential information: If you've just bought a home, use our Home Improvement Guide interactive to find information on and buyer's guides for products used in every room of the house.

Stay informed about the swine-flu outbreak

Click on the links in the widget here to find the latest information on the swine-flu outbreak from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, which has also posted a map so you can see where swine flu has broken out.

Also visit the Consumer Reports Health blog for more details on this outbreak, including information on drugs used to combat swine flu, tips on distinguishing a common cold from swine flu, and advice from our experts.

Grilling and cancer risks: Avoid burning or charring food

Lots of folks use their gas and charcoal grills year-round. But now that the warmer weather's here, I'll bet that more of you have extracted your outdoor cookers from storage or removed their winter wardrobe. (Look for our new report on grills, including a review of a pellet-fired smoker, in the June 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands on May 5. In the meanwhile, watch our video buyer's guide, right.)

Before you throw your next outdoor party, be sure your grill is safe and ready for the burgers, kebabs, fillets, and other victuals you'll cook with it. Avoid these common grilling mistakes and try our easy, delicious recipes, including tips for making the perfect steak.

Safety should always be top of mind when you're grilling, and it's not just related to a fire or burn risk. It turns out that people who regularly eat burned or charred red meat have a 60 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer, as reported in this eye-opening post on our Health blog.

Grilling food until its overcooked, burned, or charred can transform amino acids and other natural substances in the foods into compounds called heterocyclic amines, which have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Some studies suggest that ingesting these and other compounds might boost the risk of breast, colon, pancreatic, prostate, and stomach cancer. Read more about these concerns in "Grilling Basics: Don't Char the Meat."

One way to ensure that you don't overcook food is to use a meat thermometer. We tested 11 different thermometers, both instant-read models and those you leave in food as it cooks.

In our tests, the best models were off by 1°F or less on average; the lowest-scoring ones, by more than 4°F. Our technicians also measured how quickly each thermometer adjusted to temperature changes and checked the temperature range each thermometer could read. Check out the report on meat thermometers to get all the details and see the ratings (available to subscribers) to find the best model.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter

Consumer Reports finds OutdoorChef Roma 570 MX2 gas grill Not Acceptable

One of the safety checks we conduct on every gas grill we test determines whether the burners go out when we drop the lid from a height of about 6 inches above the closed position. Two OutdoorChef Roma 570 MX2 units failed the lid-drop test; their two burners repeatedly extinguished when on the low setting.

The propane gas continued to flow, resulting in a potentially dangerous situation. That failure makes the grill (shown) Not Acceptable, which means it poses a safety risk to users. The risk from the situation is low, but no grill should have this flaw. We advise against buying the Roma 570 MX2 Roma at this time.

Our technicians perform the test, similar to a standard industry one, with the burners on low and high. The burners on both Romas went out almost every time when on low, and gas continued to flow. They did not fail the test when on high. All other rated grills passed the lid-drop test on both settings.

Our technicians did follow-up tests with the burners on low: They dropped the lid, which extinguished the burners; let the gas build up for two 5-minute and two 10-minute periods; then reignited the burners from about 6 feet away using a sturdy rod. They reported no problems on three occasions; after one of the 10-minute periods, when they relit the grill with the lid closed, they heard a short burst of gas igniting.

We notified the Consumer Product Safety Commission of the product's safety risk and asked the agency to investigate.

We also contacted the manufacturer, whose president didn't dispute our findings but told us that the model had been certified by the Canadian Standards Association to meet applicable U.S. safety standards. (The Roma is made in China by Swiss company OutdoorChef International and distributed in the U.S. by Advance Outdoor Concepts.)

Don't drop the lid on your grill when you're cooking, especially if you own a Roma. If the burners extinguish, turn off the gas, and with the lid open, let the gas dissipate. Reignite the grill according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new gas grill, check out our buyer's guide to outdoor cookers and ratings (available to subscribers) and watch our video buying guide.

Itch Alert: Poison ivy seems to be growing faster and with greater potency

With spring in full swing, you're likely spending more time outdoors these days. Here's a tidbit of information you're probably not itching to read: According to researchers at Duke University, a rise in levels of carbon dioxide can boost the growth rate and potency of poison ivy, which appears throughout the U.S. as a vine or as a low shrub and has three-leaflet leaves.

Urushiol (yew-ROO-shee-ol) is what causes the irritating itching, redness, swelling, and eventual blisters. This nefarious oil can stick to nearly anything, meaning that you can get the nasty rash not only by brushing up against a poison ivy plant but also by touching something that has the oil on it, such as a pet's fur, a garden tool, sports equipment, or a toy. Particles of urushiol can also get released into the air and land on your skin when the plant is burned; airborne particles can also cause internal inflammation. Typically it will take 12 to 72 hours after the oil has touched the skin for the itchy redness and swelling to appear. (The rash cannot spread and is not contagious.)

To keep from coming in contact with the plant, say when you are working in the yard or are out for a hike, wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks. Applying the over-the-counter topical IvyBlock to your skin before you come in contact with poison ivy can lower your risk.

If you have brushed against a plant or an object with urushiol on it, wash your skin with soap and lukewarm water and launder you clothes. Also clean off the item that has urushiol on it.

If you develop a mild rash, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends you take cool showers and use an over-the-counter itch-relief product. Oatmeal baths and mixtures made with baking soda might also help. For a severe reaction, see a dermatologist or go to the emergency room. The doctor might prescribe a medication to reduce the swelling and itch.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter

Photo courtesy of www.poison-ivy.org

By the Numbers: Incandescent Grand Central Terminal replaces its last incandescent lightbulb

$200,000

Amount the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says its will save on annual electricity costs now that it has replaced all the incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs at Grand Central Terminal, the Beaux-Arts train station on 42nd Street that opened in 1913.

Electricians from MTA Metro-North Railroad today removed 110 incandescent bulbs from one of 10 11x18-foot "melon" chandeliers in the terminal (shown), the last of more than 4,000 incandescent bulbs that have been replaced over the past two years in public areas of the landmarked facility.

The MTA says the installation of CFLs is part of its efforts to earn LEED Silver status for the terminal.

If you haven't swapped out incandescents for CFLs at your home, remember that each CFL you install can save you at least $30 over its life. Buy Energy Star-qualified bulbs, which use about 75 percent less energy and are backed by warranties that run as long as nine years.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Next time you're in New York City, take a tour of Grand Central Terminal—it's a very worthwhile way to spend an hour or two. Just don't go during the morning or evening rush.

As more Americans turn to biodiesel, safety issues become apparent

The prospect of saving money has seen more Americans turn their garage or shed into a refinery for biodiesel, which is made by converting vegetable oils or animal fats into automotive and home-heating fuel with specialized home-use systems.

You'll find hundreds of online sources of biodiesel processors, which range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, like the $3,495 "Freedom Fueler Biodiesel Processor" shown. (There are also potential costs related to upgrading your electrical service and/or installing a fire-prevention system, not to mention possible hikes in your homeowners insurance.)

But a spate of biodiesel-related fires around the country highlights some of the very real safety risks associated with biodiesel, reports the Associated Press.

Biodiesel typically is made from a chemical reaction involving the oil or fat, methanol, a catalyst, and mild heat. But safely processing and handling the materials, which can be caustic or highly flammable, is far from foolproof, as illustrated by fires and explosions in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington state. 

Before you become a mini-member of OPEC, check with your town about fire-safety and building-code issues surrounding setting up a biodiesel operation at your home. And please follow all safety guidelines once you do start converting oil into fuel. Visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for more information on the safe handling and use of biodiesel.—Bob Markovich | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: As our colleagues who cover cars have reported, the upside to biodiesel is that it's fairly widely available—you can find free sources of spent vegetable oil—and older diesel cars can seamlessly burn biodiesel or diesel.

But keep in mind that it takes a lot of effort to convert the oil, which costs more than petroleum diesel. What's more, since the quality of biodiesel varies widely, car companies will honor warranties only up to 5 percent biodiesel.

Answer to NPR puzzle master's challenge has a familiar ring

If you're a fan of the "Sunday Puzzle" on NPR's Weekend Edition, then you might have heard puzzle master Will Shortz's challenge to the radio and Web audience on April 19: "Take the phrase 'more corruptness.' Rearrange these 15 letters to name a popular magazine. Tip: It's a magazine this phrase definitely does not apply to."

The answer revealed yesterday is, of course, Consumer Reports.

Here's another anagram for you: Rearrange the phrase "most sharp" to name another consumer magazine (and a sibling title to Consumer Reports). In this case, the phrase definitely describes the magazine, both its editors and readers.

Submit your guess by leaving a comment below. No prizes, unfortunately, but the magazine's advice could save you a bundle.

Stumped? Here's the answer.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter