Brentwood Makes Top 20 List in Air Quality Ranking

October 21, 2016

The Brentwood Patch
by Chris Gaudet

BRENTWOOD, TN — The city of Brentwood and its neighbor, Franklin, received special praise this week for their air quality in a study sponsored by a maker of air purification systems.

On Tuesday, Alen Corp. released its first annual list of “the 20 Best Cities to Raise a Child with Asthma.” Brentwood was ranked at #4 and Franklin at #5, both with an air quality rating of 95/100.

A lung disease, asthma inflames and narrows airways, making it difficult to breathe. One study estimated that seven million children suffer from asthma in the U.S., 28 percent of the nation’s asthma cases, according to a statement from Alen Corp.

“Asthma is especially dangerous to children because of their small lungs,” the statement added. “This makes children more sensitive to asthma triggers, which can range from humidity, pollution, pollen, exercise or other irritating particles like mold or smoke.”

The 20 Best ranking is based on an evaluation of each place’s air quality, as well as quality-of-life factors such as crime rates, state graduation rates and proximity to top-rated medical centers. “The first and most important ranking factor came down to city pollution index due to the variety of asthma patients and their specific needs,” Alen Corp. said.

Topping the list is Waterloo, a small town in Illinois near St. Louis. The #2 city is Winona, Minnesota, followed by Bellevue, Nebraska. To check out the list, click here.

The places on the 20 Best list range from small towns to medium-sized cities, and most are in major metro areas. Most of the 20 Best are in the Midwest or on the East Coast. Aside from Tennessee, the only other Southern state to make the list was Texas, with two towns in the Dallas area.

Based in Austin, Texas, Alen Corp. makes a variety of filters and air purifiers designed to reduce or eliminate mold, bacteria, dust, smoke and other irritants.