The Albany-Schenectady, NY metro area has been recognized as one of the cleanest cities in the United States for ozone pollution for the second consecutive year, as reported by the American Lung Association's 2024 "State of the Air" report released today.
According to Trevor Summerfield, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association, "In the 25 years that the American Lung Association has been doing our ‘State of the Air’ report, we have seen incredible improvement in the nation’s air quality. Unfortunately, more than 131 million people still live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution, and Albany still has work to do."
The report assessed ground-level ozone pollution and particle pollution in the Albany-Schenectady area. While the region showed improvements in ozone pollution with no unhealthy days recorded, it tied for the worst place in the Northeast region for daily particle pollution, receiving a "C" grade.
Regarding ozone pollution specifically, the Albany-Schenectady area ranked among the cleanest cities in the nation, with no unhealthy days per year, earning an A grade. On the other hand, for particle pollution, the region ranked 64th worst in the nation for short-term spikes, with 1.7 unhealthy days per year, receiving a C grade.
The report highlighted the importance of addressing air pollution, as both ozone and particle pollution can lead to various health issues, including premature death, asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer.
Despite the positive recognition for ozone pollution, the report emphasized the need for continuous efforts to improve air quality in the Albany-Schenectady area and across the country. The American Lung Association is advocating for stronger national limits on ozone pollution to enhance air quality and protect public health.
In addition to the findings in the Albany-Schenectady metro area, the "State of the Air" report revealed concerning statistics nationally, showing that millions of people live in areas with failing grades for air pollution measures, with communities of color being disproportionately affected.
The report also highlighted the recent actions by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address air pollution and climate change, urging for further measures to reduce pollution levels.
For those interested in supporting the mission of the American Lung Association, the LUNG FORCE Walk Hudson Valley is scheduled for June 15th. Individuals can register and learn more at lungforce.org/HudsonValley.
