American Lung Association: R.I. air quality improves, Washington County worst in region

THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION'S 2018 State of the Air report notes improved air quality in Rhode Island, with Washington County the worst in the region. / COURTESY ALA
THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION'S 2018 State of the Air report notes improved air quality in Rhode Island, with Washington County the worst in the region. / COURTESY ALA

PROVIDENCE — Year-round smog (ozone) and soot (particle) air pollution levels have improved state-wide since the last American Lung Association’s Annual Air Quality Report, but Washington County ranks among the most polluted in the Boston-Worcester-Providence Census Statistical Area, according to the organization’s most recent report.

The region as a whole also improved, making the region’s performance the lowest ever for ozone (measured in number of high-ozone days) and levels of soot in the air, according to the report, which examines data from 2014-2016.

Jennifer Solomon, communications representative for the ALA, said the data for the report is taken from the official Air Quality System EPA database. States, tribes and some federal agencies measure air pollution regularly, using air monitoring equipment, and report that data to the EPA.  Solomon said there is at least one air monitor in each area measured. The “State of the Air” 2018 report is based on 2014, 2015 and 2016 data. Data for 2017 won’t be quality-assured until July 1, 2018, Solomon said.

Compared to the previous report, measuring data from 2015, 2014, and 2015, Providence County is the only reporting county in Rhode Island to have improved their ozone grade from an F to a D. All three counties included in the report (Providence, Kent and Washington) experienced a drop in the number of high ozone days.

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The ALA air quality index color-codes ozone levels, measured in parts per billion, as 71-85 ppb, (orange/unhealthy for sensitive groups), 86-105 ppb, (red/unhealthy) and 106-200 ppb (purple/very unhealthy). Anything below 70 ppb is considered moderate, and anything below 54 ppb is considered a healthy ozone level.

For ozone, Providence County  had nine days of unhealthy ozone levels during the three data years:

  • 2014 – 1 day orange
  • 2015 – 3 days orange, 1 red day
  • 2016 – 4 days orange

Kent County had eight unhealthy ozone level days, with seven orange and one red during the three years:

  • 2014: 0 orange or red days
  • 2015: 2 orange days and 1 red day
  • 2016: 5 orange days

Washington County was the worst county in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Census Statistical Area for ozone and was used for the CSA grade, with 11 orange days and one red day during that time.

  • 2014: 1 orange day
  • 2015: 7 orange days
  • 2016: 3 orange and 1 red day

The CSA includes 15 counties, with unhealthy ozone days ranging from one to 12. Rhode Island’s reporting counties were among the most polluted for ozone. The next most polluted counties for ozone were Rockingham, N.H. and Windham, Conn., each with eight unhealthy ozone days. The least polluted county in the area was Suffolk, Mass. with one unhealthy ozone day.

Rhode Island’s counties have shown improvement since last year, however. In the previous year’s report, Providence County had 11 unhealthy ozone days, Kent County had nine unhealthy ozone level days, , and Washington County had 17.

“Ozone especially harms children, older adults and those with asthma and other lung diseases,” said Jennifer Wall, Director of Public Policy in Rhode Island for the ALA, “When older adults or children with asthma breathe ozone-polluted air, too often they end up in the doctor’s office, the hospital or the emergency room. Ozone can even shorten life itself,” Wall said.

Ozone levels increased in most cities nationwide, largely due to warmer temperatures in 2016, the second hottest year on record in the U.S., the ALA reports. In past decades, ozone pollution decreased nationwide because the nation cleaned up major sources of the emissions that create ozone, especially coal-fired power plants and vehicles.

Particle pollution, on the other hand, consists of soot or tiny particles from coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions, wildfires and wood-burning. The ALA air quality index color-codes particle pollution levels, measured in micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), as 35.5-55.4 µg/m3, (orange/unhealthy for sensitive groups), 55/5-150.4 µg/m3, (red/unhealthy) and 150.5-250.4 µg/m3 (purple/very unhealthy). Anything below 35.4 µg/m3 is considered moderate, and anything below 12 µg/m3 is considered a healthy ozone level.

The report found short-term particle pollution levels unchanged from the previous report. The 2018 report showed the following results for particle pollution in Providence County:

  • 2014 – 1 day orange
  • 2015 – 1 day red
  • 2016 – no days orange or red

Kent County and Washington County had zero unhealthy short-term particle days for all three years.  The 2017 report recorded one red and one orange day during the three data years sampled.

No comparable Air Quality Index exists for year-round particle pollution, so the grading was based on the 2012 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for micrograms per cubic meter, according to the report. Counties EPA listed as being at or below 12 micrograms per cubic meter were given grades of “Pass.” Counties EPA listed as being at or above that number were given grades of “Fail.”

All three counties where monitors collect data (Kent, Providence, Washington) maintained passing grades, in line with national standards, according to the report.

“We are on the right track, but we can and should do more to save lives,” said Jennifer Wall, Director of Public Policy in Rhode Island said. “The Lung Association in Rhode Island calls on our members of Congress to defend the Clean Air Act, currently under threat from those who want to weaken this effective public health law. We also call on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement and enforce the law instead of trying to roll back major safeguards like the Clean Power Plan and cleaner cars, both steps that help us fight climate change and reduce air pollution.”

Rob Borkowksi is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.

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