DC region drops to an ‘F’ in air quality report
The air quality in Washington,D.C. has considerably declined, receiving an “F” grade in a recent report from the American Lung Association, a drop from the previous year’s “C.” The average number of unhealthy days per year has risen to 3.7 due to short-term spikes in particle pollution. Despite efforts to improve air quality, trends continue to worsen, with the metropolitan area now ranked as the second-most polluted in the mid-atlantic region, following New York-newark. The report highlights the health risks associated with air pollutants, such as increased respiratory issues, cardiovascular problems, adn potential cognitive impairment. This year’s poor air quality has been exacerbated by Canadian wildfires, among othre factors. Notably, while Washington, D.C. did not make the “worst 25 cities” lists for specific pollutants,its national ranking has dropped from 90th to 66th,reflecting a meaningful deterioration in air quality. 156.1 million Americans—46% of the population—reside in areas with failing air quality grades, marking the worst figures in a decade.
DC region drops to an ‘F’ in air quality report
Washington, D.C.’s air quality dropped to an “F” grade in a new air quality report.
The new grade is lower than last year’s “C,” with 3.7 unhealthy days per year on average due to short-term spikes in particle pollution. The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report found worsening trends in air quality over time despite efforts to mitigate pollution.
The metro region was labeled the second-most polluted in the mid-Atlantic, surpassed only by New York-Newark.
“The air pollutants highlighted in this report are widespread and pose a risk to everyone’s health. Both ozone and particle pollution can lead to premature death and cause serious health issues such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, and even problems with cognitive function later in life. Particle pollution can also increase the risk of lung cancer,” ALA Director of Advocacy Aleks Casper said in a statement.
“Sadly, too many people in the metro area are living with dangerous levels of ozone and particle pollution. This pollution is making kids have asthma attacks, causing people who work outdoors to get sick and unable to work, and even contributing to low birth weight in babies,” he added, urging people to support the Environmental Protection Agency.
In 2023, wildfires in Canada contributed to the worst recorded air quality numbers, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments declared a Code Purple warning. Climate factors, vehicle emissions, particles from construction, and other industrial activities affect the region’s air pollution.
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Despite the low grade, Washington didn’t appear on the “worst 25 cities” lists for ozone and year-round particle pollution or short-term particle pollution. It ranked 66th worst in the United States, a major jump from last year’s spot at 90th.
This year’s report found that 156.1 million Americans, 25 million more than last year, were living in places with failing grades due to at least one kind of pollution, a total amounting to 46% of the U.S. population. Roughly 42.5 million people lived in areas with failing grades for all three types of pollution. This total is the worst of the past 10 years.
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