The American Lung Association's 25th annual "State of the Air" report has identified the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA metro area as one of the worst cities in the nation for ozone pollution. Trevor Summerfield, Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association, expressed concern over the findings, 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 revealed that the metro area ranked worst in the Northeast region for all three pollutants - ozone, short-term particle pollution, and year-round particle pollution. Despite improvements from the previous year, where it ranked 12th worst, the area still faces challenges in air quality. According to the report, more than 131 million people in the U.S. live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution.
In terms of ozone pollution, the New York-Newark metro area ranked 13th worst in the nation, with Fairfield, Connecticut, recording an average of 17.7 unhealthy days per year. Additionally, the area was ranked 64th worst for short-term particle pollution and 73rd worst for year-round particle pollution. The report highlighted that individuals in the U.S. experienced the highest number of days when particle pollution reached "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" levels in the history of reporting the "State of the Air."
The report also emphasized the disproportionate impact of air pollution on communities of color, with individuals more likely to live in areas with failing grades on pollution measures. Both ozone and particle pollution can have severe health effects, including premature death, asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer.
In response to the findings, the American Lung Association is urging the EPA to set stronger national limits on ozone pollution to drive cleanup efforts and protect public health. The organization encourages individuals to get involved and support their mission by participating in events like the LUNG FORCE Walk in New York City on May 18th.
