by Daniel Brouse and Sidd Mukherjee
Pollution will kill you. Usually, it is a slow, painful death.
For the last 20 years, the American Lung Association has analyzed data from official air quality monitors to compile the “State of the Air” report. The most recent report found the United States recorded more days with hazardous air quality than ever. “Hazardous” as air that reaches “emergency conditions” on the government’s air quality index. “More than 4 in 10 people live where pollution levels are too often dangerous to breathe.”
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD rank as the 21st worst city for ozone and the 18th worst for “Year Round Particle Pollution”. Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV ranked 7th worst for year round particle pollution. Lancaster, PA ranked 15th worst for particle pollution.
“Two types of air pollution dominate in the U.S.: ozone and particle pollution1. These two pollutants threaten the health and the lives of millions of Americans. Thanks to the Clean Air Act, the U.S. has far less of both pollutants now than in the past. Still, nearly 141.1 million people live in counties where monitors show unhealthy levels of one or both—meaning the air a family breathes could shorten life or cause lung cancer and other harmful effects. It may be hard to imagine that pollution could be invisible, but ozone is. It is currently one of the least-well-controlled pollutants in the United States. And, it is also one of the most dangerous” the Association reports.
Air Pollution, Health and Wellness
The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington that 5 million deaths per year could be attributed to stroke, heat attack, diabetes, lung cancer and chronic lung disease that resulted from air pollution.
The journal Lancet Planetary Health found air pollution is linked to diabetes.
The National Academy of Sciences published a study that found a significant impact from exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance.
“Today it feels like the future of our kids and our country is at stake,” said former Obama EPA chief Gina McCarthy, now director of the Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard School of Public Health. “We do not have the cleanest air and we have not crossed the finish line when it comes to pollution.”
Vote for parks. Trees and plants help abate pollution.
If you can, move away from the traffic.
Consider wearing masks.