SCRANTON, PA | April 19, 2023
The Lung Association’s 24th annual “State of the Air” report grades Americans’ exposure to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone air pollution, annual particle pollution and short-term spikes in particle pollution over a three-year period. This year’s report covers 2019-2021.
“Here in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre metro area and across the nation, we are seeing ozone pollution improving, thanks in big part to the success of the Clean Air Act. But our short-term particle pollution worsened, leaving much work to be done for all measures to improve air quality” said Aimee Van Cleave, Director of Advocacy for the Lung Association. “Even one poor air quality day is one too many for our residents at highest risk, such as children, older adults, pregnant individuals and those living with chronic disease. That’s why we are calling on lawmakers at the local, state and federal levels to take action to ensure that everyone has clean air to breathe.”
Nationally, the report found that ozone pollution has generally improved across the nation, thanks in large part to the success of the Clean Air Act. However, more work remains to fully clean up harmful pollution, and short-term particle pollution continues to get worse. In addition, some communities bear a greater burden of air pollution. Out of the nearly 120 million people who live in areas with unhealthy air quality, a disproportionate number – more than 64 million (54%) – are people of color. In fact, people of color were 64% more likely than white people to live in a county with a failing grade for at least one measure, and 3.7 times as likely to live in a county with a failing grade for all three measures.
Ground-level Ozone Pollution in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre Metro Area
The Wyoming Valley marked its best-ever performance with both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties reporting zero days (an A grade) with unhealthy levels of air pollution, placing the metro area among the cleanest cities in the nation for the first time ever under the current ozone standards. Luzerne County had reported the metro area’s previous lowest ever (earning a B grade) in the 2017-2019 and 2018-2020 reports.
Particle Pollution in Scranton—Scranton--Wilkes-Barre Metro Area
The report also tracked short-term spikes in particle pollution, which can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. The Scranton--Wilkes-Barre metro area’s short-term particle pollution got worse in this year’s report, which means there were more unhealthy air days. The area is ranked 118th worst for short-term particle pollution, falling from its ranking on the cleanest cities list for the past seven years by earning a B grade for short-term particle pollution in this year’s report.
For its first grade ever posted, Lackawanna County posted a worse value for the metro area’s daily measure of particle pollution. Lackawanna went from its previous ‘A’ to a ‘B’ in this year’s report and Wyoming went from incomplete to the same measure, also earning a ‘B.’
For the 2023 “State of the Air” report, the metro area had incomplete data recorded for year-round particle pollution. In last year’s report, the metro area tied for 154th worst, marking its best level for the third consecutive year and meeting the national standard.
The American Lung Association is calling on President Biden to urgently move forward on several measures to clean up air pollution nationwide, including new pollution limits on ozone and particle pollution and new measures to clean up power plants and vehicles. See the full report results and sign the petition at Lung.org/SOTA.
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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.
For more information, contact:
Valerie Gleason
717-971-1123
[email protected]
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