Kansas City’s thriving industry and heavy traffic continues to spill dirty air over into Clinton County’s rural atmosphere.

County officials received the bad news — an academic-style “F” — from the American Lung Association more than a week ago, but are taking it in stride. After all, they and everyone else realize it’s a problem inherited by the whims of wind from its greater southern neighbors.

It is the only failing pollution grade the Lung Association reported for a Northwest Missouri county included in the survey.

“There’s not a lot that Clinton County can do,” lamented Presiding Commissioner Randall Relford. “We’re on the receiving end. It’s a bad thing for us.”

Mr. Relford said officials have ensured their attendance at all related air quality meetings. The county is probably receiving much of the pollution from Kansas City Power & Light’s coal-fired Iatan power plant and emissions from heavy traffic, he added.

Clinton County can at least take care of itself by attempting to build green businesses that bring jobs to its communities, Mr. Relford said.

“We’re going to do the best we can,” he said.

A Missouri Department of Natural Resources air pollution monitor is stationed at Trimble, Mo. Mr. Relford said he believes the spring’s moisture and winds have likely helped improve the monitor’s recent readings.

Despite the obvious relationship, he said the Kansas City area doesn’t deserve the blame for supplying the pollution.

“They’re doing their best,” he said. “They’re changing their traffic patterns” to help alleviate the heaviest doses, he added.

The Lung Association’s 10th air quality report covered 2005-07 and actually lowered Clinton County’s grade from a “D” for 2004-06, said spokeswoman Michelle Bernth. The data is based on measurements taken from the Trimble monitor.

The Clinton County grade covers ozone (smog) as one of the three most prevalent types of pollution. The county had 46 high ozone days rated at the orange level — unhealthy for sensitive groups such as older adults and those with heart and lung disease — for the three-year period, according to the association.

Ms. Bernth said it’s understood that the county is not generating the air that carries the bad grade. Unfortunately, air pollution does not stay where it is produced, she added.

“People move throughout the metro area,” she said of traffic.

It’s for the exposure to health risks that the association conducts its studies, Ms. Bernth said. For example, officials said ozone pollution such as that found in Clinton County irritates lungs and can cause wheezing, coughing and asthma attacks.

Every county does not have an air quality monitor, which U.S. Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Dave Bryan said the federal government oversees.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.