PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - An American Lung Association report last April gave Philadelphia an “F” in air quality.

So today, two environmental groups hosted an event on Independence Mall about poor air quality and its effects on those with asthma.

Representatives from the Clean Air Council and the Sierra Club were on Independence Mall in front of a giant inflatable hand holding an inhaler, talking about the difficulty of living with asthma in areas of poor air quality.

Katie Mosher, a former pre-K teacher (at lectern in photo), says stricter standards would improve everyone’s lives — especially for one of her former students.

“It’s hard for me to explain how hard and scary it is as a teacher to listen to a child struggle to breathe at nap time without a way to help,” she said.

Jeanette MacNeille, is Milbourne (Delaware County) Borough Council president, and an asthmatic. She says some days are bearable.

“Other days, it’s a full, drawn out, full-fledged war where you know each breath you take might in fact be your last one.”

The event ended with a discussion and an “inhaler vigil.”

Reported by Tim Jimenez, KYW Newsradio 1060