EMBARGOED UNTIL | 12:01 a.m., EDT, April 20, 2016
CONTACT: Leah Miller | American Lung Association in Delaware
P: 717-541-5864 ext. 130
E: [email protected]
Delaware’s Air Quality Improved, Finds American
Lung Association’s 2016 “State of the Air” Report
But Delawareans remain at risk, especially from health effects of ozone smog
Editors’ Note: Updated trend charts and rankings for metropolitan areas and county grades will be
available on April 20 at www.stateoftheair.org.
NEWARK, DE [Embargoed Until: 12:01 a.m. EDT, April 20, 2016] The American Lung Association’s “State
of the Air 2016” report released today finds that air quality in Delaware has improved for two of three pollutant
measures, including ground level ozone, commonly called smog. Nevertheless, the state continued to
receive straight “F” grades in all three counties for ozone for the eighth straight year.
However, compared to the 2015 report, New Castle County saw a slight increase in the daily measure of fine
particle pollution, going from a “C” to a “D” grade. Meanwhile, Kent and Sussex Counties again posted “A”
grades, with respect even to the current standard for the fifth straight report. As a result, these two counties
and the Salisbury, MD-DE metropolitan (metro) area were listed among the cleanest in the nation for this
pollutant measure.
“The 2016 “State of the Air” report finds unhealthful levels of ozone throughout Delaware, putting our citizens
at risk for premature death and other serious health effects such as asthma attacks and cardiovascular harm,”
said Deborah Brown, President and CEO of the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic. “Across the
nation, the report found continued improvement in air quality, but more than half of the people in the United
States live in counties that have unhealthful levels of either ozone or particle pollution.”
Each year the “State of the Air” reports on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution
and particle pollution. The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: through average annual particle
pollution levels and short-term daily spikes in particle pollution. Both ozone and particle pollution are
dangerous to public health and can even cause death.
The 17th annual national report card, which covers air pollution data collected in 2012-2014, found continued
improvement nationwide for year-round particle pollution and ozone, but unfortunately, many areas suffered
more spikes in daily averages of particle pollution. Delaware’s air quality was consistent with these trends.
Ozone Pollution
Ozone is a powerful lung irritant formed in the atmosphere in sunlight, usually on hot days without much wind,
as a result of chemical reactions of certain air pollutants such as unburned fuel and gases from combustion.
Despite improvements in absolute ozone levels, more days of high ozone were found than were reported in
the 2015 report (2011-2013 data), because the ozone standard has been made tougher. Considering last
year’s rankings of Delaware’s two metro areas: The Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro
area, where Delaware’s two northern counties are found, improved from 28th worst in the country to 35th worst
of 228 metro areas. The Salisbury, MD-DE metro area, in which Sussex County has the only ozone monitor,
improved as well, from 43rd to 60th worst.
“Ozone smog is harmful for public health and especially for children, older adults and those with asthma and
other lung diseases,” said Kevin Stewart, Director of Environmental Health at the American Lung Association
of the Mid-Atlantic. “When vulnerable adults or children with asthma breathe ozone-polluted air, too often they
end up in the doctor’s office, the hospital or the emergency room.”
Nationwide, ozone pollution has generally decreased because major sources of the emissions that create
ozone, especially coal-fired power plants, diesel engines, and vehicles, have been cleaned up or retired.
However, according to research, warmer temperatures associated with climate change are expected to make
ozone harder to clean up in the future than it would otherwise be.
Particle Pollution
“Particle pollution is made of soot or tiny particles that come from coal-fired power plants, diesel engines,
vehicles, industries, wildfires, open burning and wood-burning devices. These particles are so small that they
can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, and can even lead to
death,” said Stewart. “Year-round particle pollution levels have dropped thanks to the cleanup of coal-fired
power plants and the retirement of old, dirty diesel engines.” In some U S metro areas, climate-changerelated increased heat, changes in weather patterns, drought and wildfires have contributed to the higher
numbers of days with unhealthy particle pollution.
The 2016 report found year-round particle pollution levels in Delaware were slightly lower than in the 2015
report. Nationwide, the best progress was in reducing these long-term average levels of particle pollution. In
fact, the Philadelphia metro area—along with 15 other cities among the worst 25 in the nation—reached its
best levels ever, despite its still being one of twelve in the country failing to meet the national air quality
standard. Its rank improved from 11th worst last year to 12th worst of 171 metro areas. Delaware’s counties
all easily earned passing grades for this pollutant measure.
The 2016 report also tracked short-term (daily average) spikes in particle pollution, as these can be extremely
dangerous and even deadly. According to the 2016 report, the Philadelphia metro area’s rank worsened from
22nd worst to 18th worst of 186 metro areas for this pollutant measure. All Delaware counties earned passing
grades: New Castle dropped from a “C” to a “D,” but Kent and Sussex again earned “A’s”. On the strength of
the latter county’s grade, the Salisbury metro area was ranked among the best in the country for short-term
particle pollution.
Steps to Preserve and Improve Air Quality:
The American Lung Association calls for several steps to safeguard the air everyone breathes:
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Protect the Clean Air Act
Reduce Carbon Pollution from Power Plants by Adopting a Strong State Clean Power Plan
Set Strong Limits on Air Pollution that Blows Across State Lines
Reduce Emissions from Existing and New Oil and Gas Operations
Clean Up Harmful Emissions from Dirty Diesel Vehicles and Heavy Equipment
Improve the Air Pollution Monitoring Network
“If we can do more to save lives—we should, and we can,” Brown said. “The Lung Association in Delaware
calls on Delaware to adopt a strong Clean Power Plan to reduce harmful emissions from power plants that
worsen climate change and immediately harm health.”
To see how your community ranks in “State of the Air 2016”, to learn how to protect yourself from air pollution
and to join the fight for healthy air, visit stateoftheair.org. For media interested in speaking with an expert
about lung health and healthy air, contact the American Lung Association of the Mid-Atlantic at
[email protected] or 717-541-5864 ext. 130.
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About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and
preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung
Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to
reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and
tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better
Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-5864872) or visit: Lung.org.
American Lung Association in Delaware • 630 Churchmans Road • Newark, DE 19702
1-800-LUNGUSA • Lung.org