PROVIDENCE – The American Lung Association has issued Providence, Kent and Washington counties failing grades for high ozone, or smog, pollution in its 2019 State of the Air report released Wednesday.
Washington County had the most “orange days,” the lowest air-pollutant warning rating in the study, with 14 days in 2015-2017, the most recent data available, followed by Kent County with 12 and Providence County at 11 days. Washington had two “red days,” while Providence and Kent counties each had one. The three counties combined for 41 orange and red days from 2015-2017, compared with 29 from 2014-2016.
Both Providence and Kent counties had received a D rating in 2018 for ozone but were downgraded to an F this year. Washington remained at an F.
There was no data available for Bristol and Newport counties.
“Rhode Island residents should be aware that we’re breathing unhealthy air, driven by emissions from power plants and extreme heat as a result of climate change, placing our health and lives at risk,” stated Jennifer Wall, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Rhode Island. “In addition to challenges here throughout Rhode Island, the 20th anniversary ‘State of the Air’ report highlights that more than 4 in 10 Americans are living with unhealthy air, and we’re heading in the wrong direction when it comes to protecting public health.”
The report said ozone levels increased in most cities nationwide, coinciding with an increase in temperature. The American Lung Association noted that 2015, 2016 and 2017 were the hottest recorded in global history.
“Rhode Island has over 18,000 kids with pediatric asthma, over 91,000 adults with asthma, and over 55,000 adults with COPD. Ozone can be harmful to anyone, but these populations are especially at risk, often driving them to the doctor’s office, the hospital or the emergency room,” said Wall.
The Rhode Island counties ranked better for particle pollution, or soot pollution. Kent and Washington counties earned A grades for the 2015-2017 data while Providence County earned a B rating.
Bristol County, Mass., earned an F for ozone pollution with 14 orange days and one red day from 2015-2017. The county was one of four in Massachusetts to earn an F grade in the 2019 report. The county earned an A for particle pollution.
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. You may reach him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
