Nashville & surrounding Areas Terrain & Air Quality (how much, allergies) - Tennessee (TN) - City-Data Forum

Secret Dove · 09-07-2010, 12:01 PM

I've been reading a bit about the terrain and air quality in Nashville and surrounding areas. It's my understanding that Nashville's on the hilly side and the air quality isn't that good. I have a few questions:

When people say Nashville's hilly is it as hilly as it is in southeastern PA(Berks county area) or hillier/flatter? We have some pretty decent sized hills here, I'm trying to get an idea if the hills out there are like the ones here or if it's flatter.

Air Quality- I've read that Nashville doesn't have good air quality and has some smog problems. I grew up in Monmouth County,NJ(Freehold to be exact) and the air quality was very poor there, here in Berks County it's better but not much. I live near(with-in 5-10 minutes) a sewer plant, coal power plant and garbage dump and having asthma(mild/low grade) it does effect my breathing a bit, mainly when it's windy/overcast,rainy,etc. Does anyone that's familiar with the air quality in Nashville and Berks County think the air quality will present a problem?

I don't think it'll stop us from moving there but it's something we have to be careful of.

Here's an example of what the air quality is in both places:
Berks - American Lung Association

Tennessee - American Lung Association

Thanks!

BirdieBelle · 09-07-2010, 01:51 PM

If you look at a topographical map of Middle Tennessee, you will see that Nashville is in a "bowl" between the Cumberland Plateau and the Tennessee River. This makes it difficult for allergy/asthma sufferers because "fine particulates" in the air tend to settle here. One thing folks from out West and up north have trouble adjusting to is the fact that you can't usually open the windows many times in the year without their sinuses clogging.

If you have breathing problems, you may want to look elsewhere. Between the humidity and the air quality, you will suffer.

Secret Dove · 09-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

If you look at a topographical map of Middle Tennessee, you will see that Nashville is in a "bowl" between the Cumberland Plateau and the Tennessee River. This makes it difficult for allergy/asthma sufferers because "fine particulates" in the air tend to settle here. One thing folks from out West and up north have trouble adjusting to is the fact that you can't usually open the windows many times in the year without their sinuses clogging.

If you have breathing problems, you may want to look elsewhere. Between the humidity and the air quality, you will suffer.

Thank you for the response. It sounds like the same situation that we have here. We've had more problems with our allergies and asthma then we did in NJ. My mother and I were diagnosed with asthma, which we've probably had most of our lives but it was never an issue until we moved here. We can't open our windows most of the year without our sinuses clogging,etc. If we did between the poor air quality and the farm across the street(big mistake!!

), we'll suffer. I've had more sinus infections living here then I ever did in my life,but luckily that's gotten better, Our area is also in a "bowl" of mountains and like out there fine particles settle.

It doesn't sound like it'll be much worse then it is here, so it shouldn't be much of an issue for us. According to the numbers of the ALA website it seems that Nashville's pretty similar to here, give or take a bit.

BirdieBelle · 09-07-2010, 03:41 PM

Yep, I hear a lot of people say, "I never had allergies until I moved to Nashville."

It may be similar to where you are now, but don't underestimate the effect of the humidity. Be sure to read the latest posts on the "how hot does it get in Nashville" thread for honest responses from other newcomers.

Secret Dove · 09-07-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wmsn4Life

Yep, I hear a lot of people say, "I never had allergies until I moved to Nashville."

It may be similar to where you are now, but don't underestimate the effect of the humidity. Be sure to read the latest posts on the "how hot does it get in Nashville" thread for honest responses from other newcomers.

I've looked at that thread and keep reading it when there's new posts. I understand that the humidity will be worse in TN, but I'm not sure how much worse it'll be to where I am now. It gets extremely humid here, to the point that its a sauna outside!

septimus · 09-07-2010, 07:20 PM

FWIW my asthma disappeared after we moved to Nashville from the northeast. I used to be on every med known to man and now nothing... not even an inhaler when I work out. The only time I had problems was last winter I had bronchitis that wouldn't clear up on its own. A round of steriods and some albuterol treatments and I was good to go again

Secret Dove · 09-07-2010, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by septimus

FWIW my asthma disappeared after we moved to Nashville from the northeast. I used to be on every med known to man and now nothing... not even an inhaler when I work out. The only time I had problems was last winter I had bronchitis that wouldn't clear up on its own. A round of steriods and some albuterol treatments and I was good to go again

That's great to hear!

I'm on 500/50 advair, use a nebulizer every day and albuterol when needed. It'll be great if I can breathe better and get off most if not all my asthma medication if we do move out to Nashville. With my good luck(not) I'll be worse though, LOL! I guess I'll have to see how I feel once we're out there...

BTW what's FWIW?

septimus · 09-07-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Secret Dove

That's great to hear!

I'm on 500/50 advair, use a nebulizer every day and albuterol when needed. It'll be great if I can breathe better and get off most if not all my asthma medication if we do move out to Nashville. With my good luck(not) I'll be worse though, LOL! I guess I'll have to see how I feel once we're out there...

BTW what's FWIW?

For What Its Worth....

maybe I'm not normal... but I don't miss asthma at all it is in the plus column of our relocation.

Secret Dove · 09-07-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by septimus

For What Its Worth....

maybe I'm not normal... but I don't miss asthma at all it is in the plus column of our relocation.

I wouldn't miss it either if It went away! You're very lucky that your not having problems out there. I've read that some people have more problems, some have less, some have none. I guess it depends on the person.

Where in the NE did you move from?