Akron, Cleveland and Lorain will ask to be officially recognized by the US EPA for meeting the air quality standards set by the federal government.

Data from 2008 through 2010 shows that the metropolitan area of Akron and it's surrounding cities meet the "2006 federal fine particulate standard."

Dispite the improving air quality Heidi Griesmer from The Ohio EPA  says that "we have a new ozone standard that we are working towards so EPA standards probably will not be lessened in the near future."

The fine particulate standard regulates tiny particles that can lodge in the lungs and have been associated with heart attacks, chronic bronchitis and asthma attacks.