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Section 31.2 Our first data set: Air pollution in the United States

This first data set that we’re going to explore is from The Guardian newspaper’s data blog. It is a record of the air pollution in various cities. According to the World Health Organization, 2.5-micrometer pollution is particularly deadly because it more easily gets deep into our lungs
 1 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particulates
. To give a sense of how dangerous this kind of pollution is, an annual mean amount of just 5 µg/m3 (microgram per cubic meter of air) was linked with a 13% increased risk of heart attacks.
We will use just the US data. It is in a large text file that looks like this:
Data: uspoll.txt
Aberdeen,SD:13:8
Adrian,MI:15:9
Akron,OH:18:11
Albany,GA:18:11
Albany-Lebanon,OR:14:8
Albany-Schenectady-Troy,NY:13:8
Albuquerque,NM:12:7
Alexandria,LA:20:12
Allegan,MI:14:9
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton,PA-NJ:21:12
Altoona,PA:19:12
Anchorage,AK:13:8
Anderson,IN:18:11
Ann Arbor,MI:16:10
Appleton,WI:14:9
Asheville,NC:15:9
Athens,OH:14:9
Athens,TN:15:9
Athens-Clarke County,GA:16:9
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta,GA:23:14
Atlantic City-Hammonton,NJ:14:8
Augusta-Richmond County,GA-SC:18:11
Augusta-Waterville,ME:14:9
Austin-Round Rock,TX:17:10
Bakersfield,CA:24:15
Baltimore-Towson,MD:20:12
Bangor,ME:12:7
Baraboo,WI:17:10
Baton Rouge,LA:19:11
Bay City,MI:13:8
Beaver Dam,WI:15:9
Beckley,WV:14:8
Bellingham,WA:7:4
Bennington,VT:11:7
Birmingham-Hoover,AL:20:12
Bishop,CA:11:6
Bismarck,ND:11:6
Bloomington,IN:17:10
Bloomington-Normal,IL:16:9
Boise City-Nampa,ID:17:10
Boone,NC:13:8
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy,MA-NH:16:10
Boulder,CO:12:7
Bowling Green,KY:17:10
Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice,FL:12:7
Brainerd,MN:8:5
Bremerton-Silverdale,WA:7:4
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk,CT:16:9
Brigham City,UT:12:7
Brookings,SD:14:9
Brownsville-Harlingen,TX:16:10
Brunswick,GA:13:8
Buffalo-Niagara Falls,NY:16:9
Burlington,NC:14:9
Burlington-South Burlington,VT:12:7
Butte-Silver Bow,MT:19:11
Cadillac,MI:10:6
Cambridge,MD:13:8
Canton-Massillon,OH:21:12
Cape Coral-Fort Myers,FL:12:7
Casper,WY:9:5
Cedar Rapids,IA:16:10
Champaign-Urbana,IL:16:10
Charleston,WV:18:11
Charleston-North Charleston-Summerville,SC:16:10
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord,NC-SC:16:10
Charlottesville,VA:13:8
Chattanooga,TN-GA:18:11
Cheyenne,WY:9:6
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet,IL-IN-WI:22:13
Chico,CA:12:7
Cincinnati-Middletown,OH-KY-IN:23:14
Clarksburg,WV:16:10
Clarksville,TN-KY:16:10
Clearlake,CA:7:4
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor,OH:24:15
Clinton,IA:18:11
Colorado Springs,CO:12:7
Columbia,SC:17:10
Columbia,TN:14:8
Columbus,GA-AL:19:11
Columbus,OH:18:11
Concord,NH:16:9
Cookeville,TN:14:9
Corning,NY:11:7
Corpus Christi,TX:18:11
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington,TX:20:12
Daphne-Fairhope-Foley,AL:15:9
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island,IA-IL:18:11
Dayton,OH:18:11
Decatur,AL:15:9
Decatur,IL:17:10
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach,FL:11:6
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield,CO:14:9
Des Moines-West Des Moines,IA:15:9
Detroit-Warren-Livonia,MI:21:12
Dickinson,ND:7:4
Dothan,AL:15:9
Dover,DE:14:8
Duluth,MN-WI:11:6
Durango,CO:7:4
Durham,NC:14:8
Durham-Chapel Hill,NC:14:8
Dyersburg,TN:15:9
East Stroudsburg,PA:13:8
Eau Claire,WI:14:8
El Centro,CA:24:14
El Dorado,AR:18:11
El Paso,TX:21:12
Elizabethtown,KY:20:12
Elkhart-Goshen,IN:21:12
Erie,PA:19:11
Eugene-Springfield,OR:13:8
Eureka-Arcata-Fortuna,CA:11:7
Evansville,IN-KY:19:12
Fairbanks,AK:31:19
Fairmont,WV:17:10
Fargo,ND-MN:13:8
Farmington,NM:8:5
Fayetteville,NC:15:9
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers,AR-MO:16:10
Flagstaff,AZ:9:5
Flint,MI:13:8
Florence,SC:15:9
Florence-Muscle Shoals,AL:15:9
Fort Collins-Loveland,CO:12:7
Fort Madison-Keokuk,IA-MO:18:11
Fort Payne,AL:15:9
Fort Smith,AR-OK:17:10
Fort Wayne,IN:23:14
Fresno,CA:74:45
Gadsden,AL:16:10
Gainesville,FL:12:7
Gainesville,GA:16:9
Gettysburg,PA:18:11
Gillette,WY:13:8
Goldsboro,NC:21:13
Grand Island,NE:13:8
Grand Junction,CO:12:7
Grand Rapids-Wyoming,MI:16:10
Grants Pass,OR:12:7
Greeley,CO:13:8
Green Bay,WI:16:10
Greensboro-High Point,NC:14:9
Greenville,NC:13:8
Greenville-Mauldin-Easley,SC:16:10
Grenada,MS:16:9
Gulfport-Biloxi,MS:16:10
Hagerstown-Martinsburg,MD-WV:19:11
Hammond,LA:15:9
Hanford-Corcoran,CA:28:17
Harriman,TN:22:13
Harrisburg-Carlisle,PA:20:12
Harrisonburg,VA:15:9
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford,CT:14:9
Hattiesburg,MS:18:11
Helena,MT:16:9
Helena-West Helena,AR:16:9
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton,NC:16:10
Hilo,HI:27:16
Hobbs,NM:13:8
Holland-Grand Haven,MI:15:9
Homosassa Springs,FL:11:7
Honolulu,HI:12:7
Hot Springs,AR:18:11
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux,LA:13:8
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown,TX:21:13
Huntington-Ashland,WV-KY-OH:19:11
Huntsville,AL:16:9
Indianapolis-Carmel,IN:25:15
Iowa City,IA:16:10
Jackson,MS:19:11
Jackson,TN:15:9
Jackson,WY-ID:11:6
Jacksonville,FL:13:8
Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia,NY:13:8
Jasper,IN:18:11
Johnstown,PA:19:12
Juneau,AK:11:6
Kahului-Wailuku,HI:11:6
Kalamazoo-Portage,MI:17:10
Kalispell,MT:13:8
Kansas City,MO-KS:24:15
Kapaa,HI:11:7
Keene,NH:16:10
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol,TN-VA:15:9
Kinston,NC:13:8
Klamath Falls,OR:18:11
Knoxville,TN:18:11
Kokomo,IN:16:10
La Crosse,WI-MN:14:8
Laconia,NH:11:7
Lafayette,IN:24:14
Lafayette,LA:18:11
Lake Charles,LA:14:8
Lake Havasu City-Kingman,AZ:6:4
Lakeland-Winter Haven,FL:13:8
Lancaster,PA:21:13
Lansing-East Lansing,MI:14:9
Laramie,WY:9:6
Las Cruces,NM:25:15
Las Vegas-Paradise,NV:20:12
Laurel,MS:18:11
Lawrenceburg,TN:14:8
Lebanon,NH-VT:11:7
Lebanon,PA:24:14
Lewiston-Auburn,ME:13:8
Lexington-Fayette,KY:16:10
Lima,OH:17:10
Lincoln,NE:14:9
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway,AR:19:12
Logan,UT-ID:15:9
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana,CA:33:20
Louisville/Jefferson County,KY-IN:22:13
Lumberton,NC:14:9
Lynchburg,VA:13:8
Macon,GA:19:12
Madera,CA:27:16
Madison,WI:16:9
Manchester-Nashua,NH:14:8
Marshall,MN:12:7
Marshall,TX:17:10
McAlester,OK:19:11
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission,TX:18:11
Medford,OR:15:9
Memphis,TN-MS-AR:17:10
Merced,CA:18:11
Meridian,MS:17:10
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach,FL:14:8
Michigan City-La Porte,IN:16:10
Middlesborough,KY:17:10
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis,WI:18:11
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington,MN-WI:17:10
Missoula,MT:21:12
Mobile,AL:15:9
Modesto,CA:25:15
Monroe,LA:22:13
Monroe,MI:16:9
Montgomery,AL:18:11
Morgantown,WV:15:9
Mount Vernon,IL:14:9
Muncie,IN:16:10
Muscatine,IA:18:11
Muskegon-Norton Shores,MI:15:9
Napa,CA:23:14
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin,TN:17:10
New Castle,IN:15:9
New Haven-Milford,CT:15:9
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner,LA:21:13
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island,NY-NJ-PA:23:14
Niles-Benton Harbor,MI:14:9
Nogales,AZ:16:10
Norwich-New London,CT:13:8
Ogden-Clearfield,UT:15:9
Oklahoma City,OK:16:10
Omaha-Council Bluffs,NE-IA:19:12
Orlando-Kissimmee,FL:12:7
Owensboro,KY:18:11
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura,CA:16:10
Paducah,KY-IL:17:10
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville,FL:10:6
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna,WV-OH:17:10
Pascagoula,MS:15:9
Pendleton-Hermiston,OR:12:7
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent,FL:14:8
Peoria,IL:16:10
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington,PA-NJ-DE-MD:28:17
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale,AZ:26:16
Pittsburgh,PA:25:15
Pittsfield,MA:14:9
Platteville,WI:15:9
Pocatello,ID:15:9
Ponca City,OK:17:10
Portland-South Portland-Biddeford,ME:15:9
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton,OR-WA:12:7
Portsmouth,OH:16:10
Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown,NY:13:8
Prescott,AZ:7:4
Prineville,OR:14:9
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River,RI-MA:18:11
Provo-Orem,UT:14:8
Pueblo,CO:11:7
Quincy,IL-MO:16:10
Raleigh-Cary,NC:16:9
Rapid City,SD:11:6
Reading,PA:19:11
Red Bluff,CA:14:8
Redding,CA:10:6
Reno-Sparks,NV:15:9
Richmond,VA:15:9
Richmond-Berea,KY:15:9
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario,CA:34:21
Riverton,WY:13:8
Roanoke,VA:15:9
Rochester,MN:13:8
Rochester,NY:14:9
Rock Springs,WY:13:8
Rockford,IL:16:9
Rocky Mount,NC:13:8
Rome,GA:18:11
Russellville,AR:14:9
Rutland,VT:15:9
Sacramento--Arden-Arcade--Roseville,CA:15:9
Salinas,CA:10:6
Salisbury,NC:16:9
Salt Lake City,UT:15:9
San Antonio,TX:14:9
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos,CA:24:14
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont,CA:16:10
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara,CA:16:10
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles,CA:16:10
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta,CA:14:9
Santa Cruz-Watsonville,CA:10:6
Santa Fe,NM:8:5
Santa Rosa-Petaluma,CA:14:8
Sault Ste. Marie,MI:14:8
Savannah,GA:17:10
Scottsbluff,NE:9:6
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre,PA:14:8
Seaford,DE:14:8
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue,WA:16:10
Sheridan,WY:14:8
Shreveport-Bossier City,LA:26:16
Sierra Vista-Douglas,AZ:11:7
Sioux City,IA-NE-SD:16:10
Sioux Falls,SD:14:9
Somerset,KY:16:10
South Bend-Mishawaka,IN-MI:21:13
Spartanburg,SC:16:10
Spokane,WA:12:7
Springfield,IL:16:10
Springfield,MA:15:9
Springfield,MO:17:10
Springfield,OH:17:10
St. Cloud,MN:14:8
St. George,UT:11:7
St. Joseph,MO-KS:20:12
St. Louis,MO-IL:22:13
State College,PA:19:11
Stockton,CA:21:12
Syracuse,NY:12:7
Talladega-Sylacauga,AL:17:10
Tallahassee,FL:14:9
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater,FL:13:8
Terre Haute,IN:19:12
Texarkana,TX-Texarkana,AR:18:11
Thomasville-Lexington,NC:17:10
Toledo,OH:17:10
Topeka,KS:14:9
Torrington,CT:9:6
Trenton-Ewing,NJ:15:9
Truckee-Grass Valley,CA:10:6
Tucson,AZ:10:6
Tulsa,OK:16:10
Tupelo,MS:16:10
Tuscaloosa,AL:16:9
Ukiah,CA:12:7
Valdosta,GA:14:9
Vallejo-Fairfield,CA:15:9
Vernal,UT:12:7
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News,VA-NC:14:8
Visalia-Porterville,CA:25:15
Warner Robins,GA:16:10
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria,DC-VA-MD-WV:19:12
Waterloo-Cedar Falls,IA:16:10
Watertown,SD:18:11
Weirton-Steubenville,WV-OH:20:12
Wenatchee,WA:17:10
Wheeling,WV-OH:20:12
Wichita,KS:16:9
Wilmington,NC:14:9
Winchester,VA-WV:16:10
Winston-Salem,NC:15:9
Worcester,MA:15:9
Yakima,WA:17:10
York-Hanover,PA:20:12
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman,OH-PA:23:14
Yuba City,CA:12:7
Yuma,AZ:14:9
There are three columns separated by colon (’:’) characters:
List 31.2.1.
  • The city and state, separated by a comma.
  • The annual mean amount of particulate pollution that is 10 micrometers in diameter, measured in terms of micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) of air. This is abbreviated as PM10.
  • The annual mean amount of particulate pollution that is 2.5 micrometers in diameter (even smaller), measured in the same micrograms per cubic meter of air. This is abbreviated as PM2.5.
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