The American Lung Association’s 25th annual “State of the Air” report has shed light on the challenges Montana faces regarding air quality, particularly following wildfires. Carrie Nyssen, Senior Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association, expressed, “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.”
The report revealed that the Billings metro area ranked 36th worst in the nation for short-term particle pollution, with Yellowstone County receiving an F grade for this pollutant. On the other hand, the Missoula metro area was recognized as one of the cleanest cities for ozone pollution, receiving an A grade. However, Missoula ranked poorly for short-term particle pollution and received a failing grade for annual particle pollution levels.
According to the report, nationally, over 131 million people live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels, with millions residing in regions with failing grades for all three pollution measures. The impact of poor air quality is significant, with both ozone and particle pollution being linked to serious health effects such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and even lung cancer.
The American Lung Association is calling for stronger national limits on ozone pollution to tackle the challenges posed by air pollution. The recent updates in air pollution rules by the EPA are seen as a step forward, but there is a pressing need for more stringent measures to protect public health and combat climate change.
To access the full report results and support the advocacy efforts, individuals can visit Lung.org/SOTA.
