Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Erie County Report Failing Air Quality Grades

The American Lung Association's annual 'State of the Air' report finds that air quality in several U.S. metro areas, including Pittsburgh, Erie, and Atlanta, has worsened, with all three receiving poor grades for ozone and particle pollution. Pittsburgh ranked 16th worst for daily particle pollution and 12th worst for year-round averages, with Allegheny County receiving a failing grade due to pollution from industry, vehicles, and construction, exacerbated by 2023 wildfires. Erie County, previously among the cleanest, saw its air quality grade drop from A to C, largely attributed to Canadian wildfire smoke that led to multiple days with unhealthy air levels. Atlanta received failing grades for both ozone and particle pollution, ranking third worst for ozone in the Southeast and experiencing a significant increase in days with unhealthy air. The report highlights health risks from air pollution, including asthma, heart attacks, and lung cancer, and notes that nearly half of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air. Factors such as extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, driven by climate change, are cited as worsening pollution levels and health inequities, especially for vulnerable populations.