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National and Regional Analyses cont'd
Regional Analyses
Ozone and particle pollution can flow easily beyond state borders, across the nation and around the world, often ending up far from its sources. This movement can occur within a county, a state, a region or across national boundaries. To look at pollution solely on a county-by-county or state-by-state basis overlooks the fluid nature of these pollutants. The discussion that follows uses the regional divisions set up by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to examine changes that have occurred since publication of American Lung Association State of the Air 2005 report. Analyses cover state and metropolitan areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. However, many of the large urban centers with elevated air pollution levels overlap two or more EPA regions, such as the New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NE-CT-PA metropolitan area, which covers parts of four states and three EPA regions. To make it easier to see a complete picture of the region, those multi-state areas are reviewed in each region they overlap.
Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Many counties in the New England region saw improvements in ozone and particle levels. Much of this region’s ozone pollution is transported from other regions, combined with local sources.
Connecticut
Bridgeport is part of the New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA metropolitan area, which ranked among the 25 most polluted metro areas in the nation (9th most ozone-polluted, 15th for short-term particle pollution and 16th for year-round particle levels). Fairfield and New Haven counties ranked as the 15th and 24th most ozone-polluted counties in the nation. New Haven County also ranked 19th on the list of counties most polluted by short-term particle levels. Two counties improved their particle pollution grades, most importantly New Haven County, which improved to a passing grade in year-round particle levels.
Maine
Ozone remained the biggest problem in Maine, though serious problem areas are limited. In addition, several counties significantly improved their ozone grades, including Cumberland, Knox and Penobscot counties which moved from an F to a C, D and C, respectively. The most polluted county for ozone remained York County, which received an F. Maine has much less of a problem with particle pollution, and all counties passed the annual grade for particle pollution. The worst grade for short-term particles was Aroostook County, with a C grade. For particle pollution, Hancock County ranked as the 18th cleanest county in the nation for year-round levels of particle pollution. Several counties improved their grades for short-term levels, including Cumberland and Kennebec, where grades improved to an A from a B, landing them on the list of the cleanest counties for short-term particle pollution. Grades for Aroostook and Oxford counties both dropped slightly.
Massachusetts
Ozone remained the biggest air pollution problem in Massachusetts, though two counties also have unhealthy levels of short-term particle pollution levels. Norfolk County had the highest number of unhealthy ozone days and received an F. Two counties, Berkshire and Worcester, improved their ozone levels to a D from an F. For particle pollution, Hampden County remained the county with the worst short-term levels, while Suffolk had the worst year-round levels.
New Hampshire
Ozone remained the biggest air pollution problem in New Hampshire. Fortunately, only two counties, Hillsborough and Rockingham, received Fs for having the most days with unhealthful levels. Coos County saw its ozone grade drop to a D from a C in this year’s report. However, Coos County’s particle pollution grade for short-term levels improved to an A from a B, placing it on the list for the cleanest counties in the nation for that pollutant, along with Grafton County.
Rhode Island
Ozone pollution remained a consistent problem in Rhode Island, with all monitored counties again receiving F grades, though all had fewer unhealthful days than in last year’s report. All counties received passing grades for the annual levels of particle pollution, with no counties receiving an F for short-term levels.
Vermont
Vermont had only a few days of unhealthful air during 2002-2004. Bennington County remained the county with the most days with unhealthful ozone and short-term levels of particle pollution.
Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico
Like New England, New Jersey and New York suffer from pollution blown in from outside the state, as well as that pollution generated by local sources. Dominating this region are several metropolitan areas with some of the most serious air pollution problems in the nation. The largest U.S. city, comprising the New York-Newark-Bridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA metropolitan area, remained ranked 9th among the 25 most ozone-polluted U.S. cities. Compared to the 2005 report, the New York area’s ranking worsened for short-term particle pollution, moving to 15th most polluted from 25th, though it improved on its year-round exposure to particles, going from 12th to 16th most polluted.
New Jersey
New Jersey continued to have serious problems with both ozone and particle pollution. Camden and Ocean counties tied for 16th most ozone-polluted counties in the nation. Union County ranked 19th most polluted by short-term particle levels. New Jersey cities are also parts of three metropolitan areas with high levels of air pollution. Newark is the part of the New York metropolitan area discussed above. Camden is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Vineland, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area that remained ranked as the 10th most ozone-polluted city. Easton is part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metro area. Both of these last two metropolitan areas improved enough to just drop off list of the 25 cities most polluted by short-term particles pollution levels and tie for 27th place.
Several New Jersey counties improved their grades. Most notably, Hudson County improved its grade for ozone to a D from an F. Only Mercer County dropped a grade, to a D from a C.
New York
In addition to the New York metropolitan area, Buffalo-Niagara-Cattaraugus continues to be ranked on the list of most ozone-polluted cities. However, its ozone levels improved enough to move it to the 25th place on that list from the 20th.
New York County ranks as 20th most polluted county in the nation by year-round particle pollution. It did improve its short-term grade to a D from an F. Several other New York counties improved their grades, particularly Steuben County, which improved its short-term particle grade to a C from an F, and Oneida County, which improved its ozone grade to a D from an F.
Puerto Rico
As an island located far from transported pollution, Puerto Rico has historically had good air quality.
Regional Analyses continued... |
