Report: State's Air Quality Remains Substandard

A new report by the American Lung Association reveals air quality levels across northern New Jersey continue to make incremental improvements, but the region continues to have some of the worst air quality in the country.

The report, titled “State of the Air 2013,” covering the years 2009-11, documented how Bergen, Essex and Morris counties each had fewer high soot days during the period, but an increase in smog levels.

The three counties were tied for 17^th worst for ozone smog, an improvement from 15^th last year and finished better than the worst 25 for both measures of soot pollution (55^th for short term, 45^th for long term), the report said.

However, the report said, overall, the state’s average air quality for ozone and daily particle pollution was at its cleanest since the organization’s first report 13 years ago.

“The air in New Jersey is certainly cleaner than when we started the ‘State of the Air’ report 14 years ago,” said Deb Brown, president and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic. “Even though Atlantic and Bergen Counties experienced increases in unhealthy days of high ozone smog, the air quality is still better compared to a decade ago. But the work is not done, and we must set stronger health standards for pollutants and clean up sources of pollution in New Jersey to protect the health of our citizens.” 

All of New Jersey’s counties continue to struggle with bad air days for ozone smog, the report said. Of the 14 counties measured and graded, 10 earning “F’s” last year repeated that grade. In addition, Essex County joined this year’s list with an “F.”

Despite improvements, the report found that more than 131.8 million people in the U.S. still live in counties that have unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution, which equates to more than 4 in 10 people (42 percent).

To see the entire report, click here.