New Report: Minnesota’s Air Quality Improving

This year’s “State of the Air” report from the American Lung Association finds that Minnesota’s rankings were generally good for the most harmful and widespread types of air pollution: particle pollution and ozone.  The Lung Association’s annual air quality “report card” tracks and grades Americans’ exposure to unhealthful levels of particle pollution over a three-year period – this year’s report covers 2017-2019. Minnesota scored all “A” and “B” grades with the exception of Ramsey County, which earned a “C” for particle pollution. Overall, the Twin Cities region had the fewest number of unhealthy days for short-term particle pollution since the annual report began 22 years ago. See the full report at Lung.org/sota.

“While we are very pleased with our overall grades, we realize that Minnesota still has many opportunities to reduce emissions from vehicles, power plants, and other sources of air pollution,” said Robert Moffitt, a communications director for the American Lung Association. “From public policies and rulemaking that support public health to individual choices that we all can make, the goal of cleaner, healthier air is achievable.”

This year’s report found that nationwide, more than 4 in 10 people (135 million) lived with polluted air, placing their health and lives at risk. People of color were 61% more likely to live in a county with unhealthy air than white people. The report also finds that climate change made air quality worse and harder to clean up.

The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: average annual levels and short-term spikes. Both ozone and particle pollution can cause premature death and other serious health effects, such as asthma attacks and cardiovascular damage, and are linked to developmental and reproductive harm. Particle pollution can also cause lung cancer.

Learn more about “State of the Air” at Lung.org/sota and sign the petition for the Biden Administration to promote clean air, a safe climate and environmental justice.