Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY metro area has been highlighted in the American Lung Association's 2024 “State of the Air” report, released today, as experiencing worsened ozone and particle pollution compared to the previous year. According to the report, the metro area was named the 98th most polluted in the nation for ozone and the 101st worst for particle pollution. Trevor Summerfield, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association, emphasized the need for action, stating, "Climate change is making air pollution more likely to form and more difficult to clean up, so there are actions we can and must take to improve air quality."
The report evaluates exposure to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone air pollution, annual particle pollution, and short-term spikes in particle pollution over a three-year period. In terms of ground-level ozone pollution, the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY metro area ranked 98th worst in the nation, with an average of 0.7 unhealthy days per year in Erie County, New York. For particle pollution, the metro area ranked 101st worst for short-term spikes, with an average of 0.8 unhealthy days per year in Erie, New York.
Not only has the metro area seen a decline in air quality compared to the previous year, but the report also highlighted that nationally, over 131 million people live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels, with communities of color being disproportionately affected. Both ozone and particle pollution can have severe health effects, including premature death, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and lung cancer.
In response to these concerning findings, the American Lung Association is urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set stronger national limits on ozone pollution. This call for action comes after the EPA recently finalized new air pollution rules aimed at addressing particle pollution and climate change. Strengthening these limits is seen as a crucial step in protecting public health and driving the cleanup of polluting sources across the country.
To access the full report results and support the call for stronger air quality regulations, individuals can visit Lung.org/SOTA.
