Compared to the 2019 report, New Orleans experienced more unhealthy days of high ozone in this year’s report. New Orleans tied for 93rd most polluted city for ozone.
Louisiana’s Air Quality
The American Lung Association’s 2020 “State of the Air” report showed that cities in Louisiana ranked mixed results for the country’s highly prevalent air pollutants—particle or ozone pollution—all of these may prove toxic. The report revealed that Bossier City, Shreveport, and Minden registered the highest levels attained in ozone pollution while ranking as close to the cleanest towns within the country for a first historical period. Baton Rouge ranked as the top polluted town in ozone while diminishing median toxic ozone levels.
The Lung Association’s yearly air quality “report card” assesses Americans’ susceptibility to toxic volumes of particle pollution or ozone over a three-year interval. Once more, the report showed that about half of American citizens got exposed to poisonous air from 2016-2018.
“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which has been responsible for dramatic improvements in air quality. However, Louisiana residents are breathing more unhealthy air compared to last year’s report, driven by extreme heat due to climate change, placing our health and lives at risk,” declared American Lung Association Director of Advocacy Ashley Lyerly. “Also, counting around half of Americans inhaling toxic air, the ‘State of the Air report reveals that nationally, due to climate change, the country is headed in a wrong direction regarding protecting public health.”
The “State of the Air” annually delivers a report assessment about the two highly prevalent outdoor pollutants, ozone pollution, smog, particle pollution, and soot. The report evaluates particle pollution with two methods: median yearly particle pollution degrees or temporary increases with particle pollution. All ozone or particle pollution remains toxic to the public or may raise overall risks of early mortality or more severe health conditions, including asthma outbreaks, cardiovascular illness, or developmental and reproductive damage. Particle pollution may lead to lung cancer, while the latest research connects air pollution with the contraction of severe diseases, including dementia or asthma.
This year’s report encompasses 2016, 2017, and 2018, the years registering the latest quality-assured data on hand collated by cities, states, counties, tribes, or federal agencies. Significantly, the three years reported among the five warmest registered in international history. Soaring temperatures resulted in raised degrees of ozone pollution. Altered climate trends may spark wildfires with their toxic smoke, which presents particle pollution. Particle and ozone pollution harm all, particularly kids, mature elders, or elders with lung cancer. While the report fails to cover data from 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of air pollution on the lungs are of grave importance.
Particle Pollution in Louisiana
“State of the Air” 2020 reported that annual particle pollution degrees in New Orleans registered substantially lower than last year’s statistics. New Orleans rankings tied 94th for yearly particle pollution or progressed to the optimum degrees, reaching the national standard.
Baton Rouge urban sections registered increased yearly particle pollution levels, but all still reach the national standard. The Shreveport-Bossier City-Minden city rankings tied 16th, whereas Baton Rouge rankings tied 46th top polluted town for annual particle pollution.
“Particle pollution can lodge deep in the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. It can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes and cause lung cancer,” claimed Lyerly.
