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Madison And Jersey Receive Low Marks In Latest "State Of The Air" Report By American Lung Association
ST. LOUIS, MO. - Madison and Jersey counties received low grades in the American Lung Association's latest "State of the Air" report as daily forecasting returns for the 2024 season.
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Madison received an "F" in the grading, while Jersey a "D." Macoupin County was given a "B" mark and St. Clair County a "C."
For the eighth consecutive year, the St. Louis region avoided being ranked among the top 25 most ozone-polluted U.S. Cities, coming in at number 30 on the list out of 228 metropolitan areas.
The American Lung Association's latest "State of the Air" report finds that despite decades of progress cleaning up air pollution, 39% of people living in America – 131.2 million individuals – still live in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This is 11.7 million more people breathing unhealthy air compared to the years covered by the 2023 report (2019-2021), which reinforces the need to protect our local communities from the continued risks to public health resulting from of a combination of factors, including extreme heat, drought, wildfire smoke and more.
The region ranked 33rd on the list for most polluted cities by annual particle pollution, which is back six spots from the previous year.
The "State of the Air" report looks at two of the most widespread and dangerous air pollutants, fine particles and ozone. The air quality data used in the report are collected at official monitoring sites across the United States by the federal, state, local and governments. The Lung Association calculates values reflecting the air pollution problem and assigns grades for daily and long-term measures of particle pollution and daily measures of ozone. Those values are also used to rank cities (metropolitan areas) and counties.
"Even though we're pleased to see that St. Louis continues to avoid landing back among the nation's top 25 most ozone-polluted cities, the data still clearly shows that we're far from a clean bill of health for our region," said Susannah Fuchs, Director of Clean Air for the American Lung Association in Missouri. "As we prepare to settle into the summer months when we're at greater risk for poor air quality, the Clean Air Partnership strongly urges area residents to remain steadfast in their efforts to take voluntary steps to reduce emissions because those actions play a critical role in improving air quality conditions and helping people across the region breathe easier. This is particularly important to keep in mind for children, older adults and those who suffer from lung diseases that make them especially vulnerable."
The most up-to-date report findings have added to the evidence that a changing climate is making the job of cleaning up the air and protecting human health more difficult.
High ozone days and spikes in particle pollution related to extreme heat, drought and wildfires are putting millions of people at risk and adding challenges to the work that states and cities are doing across the nation to clean up air pollution.
Here's a look at the latest rankings for ozone pollution across the region for counties in the non-attainment area included in the American Lung Association's report:
Missouri:
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Jefferson County: DSt. Charles County: FSt. Louis County: DSt. Louis City: C
Illinois:
Jersey County: DMacoupin County: BMadison County: FSt. Clair County: C
According to the 2024 "State of the Air" report, exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution continues to make breathing difficult for more people across the country than any other single pollutant. For the three years covered in this year's report (2020-2022), some 100.6 million people lived in the 125 counties in 26 states that earned an "F" grade for ozone, including St. Charles County in Missouri and Madison County in Illinois. This means that three of every ten people – including 22.5 million infants and children, 15.5 million people age 65 or older and tens of millions in other groups at risk of health harm – are exposed to high levels of ozone on enough days to earn the air they breathe a failing grade.
While ozone air pollution remains a serious threat to public health, one trend continuing in a positive direction for the fourth consecutive report is the number of people living in counties with a failing grade for ozone that actually declined, this year by 2.4 million people. The long-term trend of improvement can be attributed to controls placed on emissions that have increasingly resulted in the replacement of more polluting engines, fuels and industrial processes nationwide.
Fuchs notes that since transportation has long been reported to have the most profound impact on air quality, making the choice to spend less time behind the wheel is an easy way to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Actions like using transit, carpooling and vanpooling, combining errands into a single trip, telecommuting, and walking and biking more to get around town all help take cars off area roads and keep related emissions out of our air. There are also many other eco-friendly lifestyle changes unrelated to commuting that individuals and businesses can consider to positively impact air quality and improve lung health, including efforts to conserve energy, recycle, reduce waste and reuse items.
During the forecasting season, the Partnership ramps up its efforts to inform area residents about ozone pollution levels in the region and how those levels can affect their health by releasing color-coded, daily air quality forecasts to let people know what the next day's air quality is forecast to be and if they should alter their outdoor activities to minimize exposure to polluted air. This is especially crucial on orange or red unhealthy air quality days, which we saw an excess of this past year. Individuals can now sign up to receive the daily forecast via their email inboxes or text through the Environmental Protection Agency's EnviroFlash air quality alert system by visiting CleanAir-StLouis.Com. There, they can also access a wealth of air quality information and tips to do their share for cleaner air all summer long.
Additional air quality information and the daily forecast can be accessed by liking the Clean Air Partnership on Facebook, or by following the organization on X, formerly known as Twitter, @gatewaycleanair. To access the full American Lung Association 2024 "State of the Air" report, visit Lung.Org.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to champion clean air for all; to improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families; and to create a tobacco-free future. For more information about the American Lung Association, which has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and is a Platinum-Level GuideStar Member, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.Org. To support the work of the American Lung Association, find a local event at Lung.Org/events.
About the Clean Air Partnership
The Clean Air Partnership was formed in 1995, led by the American Lung Association, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Washington University, and others, to increase awareness of regional air quality issues and to encourage activities to reduce air pollution emissions.
More like this:What Landed Fargo On The List Of U.S. Cities With The Worst Short-term Particle Pollution?
Updated: April 30, 3 p.M.Posted: April 29, 12:20 p.M.Wildfire smoke drifting across the region in recent summers caused particle pollution spikes that landed Fargo on a list of the worst cities for short-term particle pollution in the United States.
According to the American Lung Association's 2024 State of the Air report, the Fargo-Moorhead area is ranked 24th of the 25 U.S. Cities with the worst short-term particle pollution.
The ranking was based on Cass County's average number of unhealthy air quality days, which averaged 7.2 days per year. This year's report includes air quality data from 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Pat McKone, director of advocacy at the American Lung Association, said wildfire smoke is an ongoing cause of unhealthy air quality.
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"That has continued to be an issue for both short-term and long-term particulate in the region," McKone said. "It's climate change and the resulting impacts of wildfire smoke."
The ranking uses data from a state air quality monitor located in Cass County that measures levels of particle and ozone pollution. The state defines the monitor's coverage area as Cass and Richland counties in North Dakota and Clay and Wilkin counties in Minnesota. The area includes the cities of Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Dilworth, Wahpeton and Breckenridge.
The 2024 State of the Air report looks at EPA data to grade cities and counties on exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution, annual particle pollution and short-term spikes in particle pollution over a three-year period.
Ozone pollution, also called smog, is created when pollutants like nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are heated by sunlight, according to the American Lung Association. The pollutants are emitted by power plants, vehicles, factories and other sources.
Particle pollution is caused by factories, power plants, vehicle emissions and fires.
Short- and long-term exposure to both types of pollution have adverse health effects.
The 2024 State of the Air report found that across the United States, 30% of Americans, or 131.2 million people, live in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution.
Of the places named on the list of cities with the worst short-term particle pollution, Fargo is the farthest east. Ten cities on the list are in California.
Fargo appeared on the list last year, as well, but was ranked higher at 22nd worst. Last year, the region had an average of 7.7 unhealthy days per year. The move down the list shows a slight improvement in the number of days with unhealthy air quality, McKone said.
"You don't want to be No. 1 in the worst polluted list," she said.
For the year-round average level of particle pollution, the Fargo-Moorhead area was ranked 99th worst in the U.S., worse than last year's ranking of 123rd.
Looking at annual levels of ozone "smog," Fargo-Moorhead ranked 116th worst in the U.S., improved from last year's place of 111th.
Several Minnesota cities were recognized in the American Lung Association's report for clean air.
According to the report, Duluth is the seventh cleanest city in the U.S. For year-round particle pollution and also made the list of cleanest cities in the U.S. For ozone air pollution.
The Rochester-Austin area was in the top 25 cleanest cities for year-round particle pollution as the 19th cleanest city on the list. It also made the list of cleanest cities in the U.S. For ozone air pollution.
The La Crosse-Onalaska, Wisconsin-Minnesota, area was also named on the American Lung Association's list of cleanest cities in the U.S. For ozone air pollution.
Poor air quality from ozone and particle pollution can affect anybody but disproportionately affects lower-income communities, McKone said.
"Many of the plants that emit some of these air pollutants are built in parts of the city where lower-income communities are," she said.
People with breathing problems, like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are also more affected by poor air quality, and exposure to both types of pollution can worsen symptoms, McKone said.
Long-term exposure to ozone pollution can cause lasting damage to respiratory health, the American Lung Association said. Long-term exposure to particle pollution increases the risk of lung disease.
McKone urged people to take air quality alerts seriously and limit exposure when there are air quality alerts.
"As we are experiencing the results from climate change and more particulates and more ozone levels, we have to take those measures," she said. "Especially for those people who, even when the air meets the standards, are struggling to breathe easy."
Athletes, like runners, should avoid exerting themselves outside when air quality is bad, McKone said.
The State of the Air report lists recommended actions for the federal government; state, territorial and tribal governments; local governments and individuals to reduce air pollution. One of the ways individuals can reduce particle pollution is not burning wood or garbage, McKone said, which emit particles
"I've enjoyed many great times around a campfire or backyard fire, but the truth is that these are much more common and also have air particles that come," she said. "In our neighborhood, when somebody's having one of those outdoor fires, you can readily smell it — it comes into the home."
More information about the effects of particle and ozone pollution and lung health, as well as the full 2024 State of the Air report, is available at the American Lung Association's website, lung.Org.
The Fargo Forum editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated which organization manages the air quality monitor in Cass County and the number of monitoring stations in North Dakota. The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality operates nine monitors across North Dakota.
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Fresno Is Among Top 10 Most Polluted Cities In U.S., American Lung Association. Here's Why
Fresno has some of the worst air quality in the United States, according to the American Lung Association.
The Central Valley is one of the top 10 most polluted cities in the United States, according to the American Lung Association's 2024 State of the Air report.
Each year, the association issues report cards for all U.S. Cities and counties where air quality data is collected on ozone and particle pollution. Metro areas are ranked from cleanest to most polluted in terms of pollution and each county is given a grade ranging from A to F.
The Los Angeles-Long Beach metro area topped the list of the spots with the most high ozone days.
Bakersfield, meanwhile, led the nation in terms of year-round and short-term particle pollution.
"Particle pollution and ozone are a threat to human health at every stage of life," the American Lung Association said on its website, noting that "some groups of people are more at risk of illness and death than others."
These include children, pregnant people, people 65 and older and those with asthma and other lung diseases.
Smoke billows from a mountainside east of Mariposa as the Oak Fire rages near Yosemite National Park in 2022. CRAIG KOHLRUSS/ckohlruss@fresnobee.Com
What's the air quality in Fresno?The American Lung Association paired Fresno, Madera and Hanford together as a single metropolitan area with a combined population of more than 1.3 million people.
The metro area was No. 4 on the list of the places with the worst ozone pollution with an annual average 52.2 days of high ozone days.
Ozone can be seen as smog, but is a gas composed of molecules that forms in the lower atmosphere.
When it comes to 24-hour particle pollution, the Fresno-Madera-Hanford area came in second place, with 54.8 days of high particle pollution per year on average.
The area was third on the list of places with the highest annual particle pollution, with a yearly average concentration of 17.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
Particle pollution is a "mixture of tiny bits of solids and liquids in the air" that we later breathe, according got the American Lung Association.
Fresno County scored failing grades for ozone, short-term particle pollution and long-term particle pollution on its 2024 State of the Air report card.
Smoke from the Creek Fire puts downtown Fresno under a pall in September 2020. Fresno Bee file
Which US cities have the worst ozone pollution?Here are the top 10 most polluted metropolitan areas in the United States in terms of ozone, according to the American Lung Association:
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Visalia
Bakersfield
Fresno-Madera-Hanford
Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona
Denver-Aurora, Colorado
Sacramento-Roseville
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, Utah
Houston-The Woodlands, Texas
These 10 metro areas had the worst year-round particle pollution, the State of the Air report said:
Bakersfield
Visalia
Fresno-Madera-Hanford
Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland
Los Angeles-Long Beach
Sacramento-Roseville
Medford-Grants Pass, Oregon
Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona
Fairbanks, Alaska
These 10 metro areas topped the list for the worst short-term particle pollution:
Bakersfield
Fresno-Madera-Hanford
Fairbanks, Alaska
Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
Visalia
Reno-Carson City-Fernley, Nevada
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland
Redding-Red Bluff
Sacramento-Roseville
Chico
The American Lung Association's State of the Air report for 2024 ranked U.S. Cities and graded counties based on ozone and particle pollution during 2020, 2021 and 2022, according to its website.
Data on ozone and short-term particle pollution at locations across the country came from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality System, as did data on year-round particle pollution by county.
The American Lung Association said it was assisted by members of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies and the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies.
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