Air quality in the Boston area is getting worse, report card says. See the grades for Massachusetts.
Air quality in the metro area that includes Boston, Worcester and Providence has gotten worse, a new report by the American Lung Association says. The "State of the Air Report" says wildfire smoke from Canada that was widespread in the New England region in 2023 is a big factor in the decline.
The report looked at daily and long-term levels of particle pollution, as well as daily measures of ozone "smog" between 2021 and 2023. Worcester County saw higher daily particle pollution levels, causing its prior "B" grade to fall to a "C," the report explained. Worcester had an average number of 1.7 unhealthy air quality days per year, and the report notes that even a short-term spike in particle pollution "can be extremely dangerous and even deadly."
"Although year-round particle pollution levels showed slight improvement, the metro area remains the second worst in the Northeast for this pollutant," the report says.
The Boston area was ranked 61st worst in America for ozone pollution. Washington County in Rhode Island dropped to an "F" grade for ozone, with an average of 4.5 unhealthy days per year due to the smog.
"Unfortunately, too many people in the Boston metro area are living with unhealthy levels of ozone and particle pollution," David Fitzgerald with the American Lung Association said in a statement. "This air pollution is causing kids to have asthma attacks, making people who work outdoors sick and unable to work, and leading to low birth weight in babies."
Air quality grades in Massachusetts
Below are the grades received by Massachusetts counties that reported ozone and particle pollution data. The report said zero Massachusetts counties earned "A" grades.
Particle pollution grades
Berkshire: D
Bristol: C
Essex: C
Franklin: D
Hampden: D
Hampshire: C
Middlesex: B
Norfolk: B
Plymouth: C
Suffolk: B
Worcester: C
Ozone grades
Barnstable: C
Berkshire: B
Bristol: D
Dukes: C
Essex: C
Franklin: B
Hampden: C
Hampshire: B
Middlesex: B
Norfolk: D
Plymouth: C
Suffolk: C
Worcester: B
