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A study from the American Lung Association says Beaver County and southwestern Pennsylvania are among the worst areas in the country for air pollution.The Beaver County Times reports the association released its 2016 State of the Air findings and gave the 12-county Pittsburgh metropolitan area failing grades in several areas.The report says the region was ranked the eighth worst in the country for annual measures of fine particle pollution, and 26th worst for smog ozone.Beaver County received a failing grade for ozone smog levels, one of nine area counties that earned that grade.Coal-fired power plants, such as ones owned by FirstEnergy, were listed as significant contributors to regional air pollution. A FirstEnergy spokeswoman says the company invests millions annually to maintain environmental control technology.