Report: Trouble in the Air-Millions of Americans Breathed Polluted Air in 2020

From PennEnvironment (http://www.pennenvironment.org):

Fighting for clean air to breathe has been a PennEnvironment priority for decades. So yesterday, we released a new study that breaks down air pollution data by Pennsylvania’s major metropolitan areas, and compares those findings with other metro areas in the state and nationally.

Learn more about our study and its findings.

The report, Trouble in the Air: Millions of Americans Breathed Polluted Air in 2020, contains new information using the most recent data for fine particulate pollution and ground-level ozone from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These pollutants are linked to health conditions like asthma and heart disease.

Sadly, Lancaster and Harrisburg led the state with the most unhealthy air days in 2020, with 107 and 97, respectively. In Pennsylvania’s two largest metropolitan areas, Pittsburgh experienced 57 unhealthy air days while Philadelphia had 49.

We were pleased that our study received media coverage all across the state, including PennLive in Harrisburg, the York Daily Record in York and WPXI in Pittsburgh.^1,2,3

Released in partnership with The Frontier Group and PennPIRG, Trouble in the Air also recommends a set of solutions that are readily available at the state and federal level for cleaning our air. These solutions include electrifying our buildings, equipment and transportation; transitioning to clean renewable energy; and strengthening federal and state air quality standards.

Sadly, our study shows that from Pittsburgh to Lancaster to the Lehigh Valley to Philly, our leaders in Washington DC and Harrisburg aren’t going far enough to protect public health from dangerous levels of air pollution.

Table A1. Days with elevated ozone, particulates and total pollution, by geographic area, 2020

We’re hopeful that the data in our new study will spark a larger conversation about the solutions that are needed to address our air quality challenges across the Commonwealth.

Of course, we couldn’t do this hard-hitting research and statewide media blitz without your ongoing involvement and support, so thank you. We look forward to continuing to put the bright spotlight on threats to our environment and planet with you by our side.

1. Jan Murphy, “Harrisburg residents breathed three months of unhealthy air in 2020, report finds,” PennLive, Oct 5, 2021.
2. Mike Argento, “Worse than Philly and Pittsburgh: Central Pa. leads the state in poor air quality, report says,” York Daily Record, Oct 5, 2021.
3. Alyssa Raymond, “How often do we breathe in unhealthy air in Pittsburgh? New report takes a look,” WPIX-TV, Oct 5, 2021.