BOSTON - E.P.A. today confirmed that New Englanders experienced a slight increase in the number of unhealthy air quality days this year, compared to 2014 and 2013.
Based on preliminary data collected between April and September 2015, there were 24 days when ozone monitors in New England recorded concentrations above levels considered healthy. By contrast, in 2014 there were a total of nine unhealthy ozone days, and in 2013 there were a total of 20 such days.
The number of unhealthy ozone days in each state this summer is as follows:
- 22 days in Connecticut (compared to eight in 2014, and 18 in 2013)
- four days in Rhode Island (0 in 2014, and seven in 2013)
- three days in Massachusetts (0 in 2014, and six in 2013)
- two days in Maine (0 in 2014, and five in 2013)
- two days in New Hampshire (1 in 2014, and three in 2013)
- 0 days in Vermont (0 in both 2014, and 2013).
Although the number of unhealthy days may vary from year to year due to weather conditions, over the long-term, New England has experienced a significant decrease in the number of unhealthy ozone days. In 1983, New England had 113 unhealthy days, compared with 24 this year. This downward trend is due to a reduction in the emissions that form ozone.
"All Americans should feel proud of the progress we have made in reducing ozone pollution over the past several decades," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "Cleaner and healthier air benefits everybody, and helps strengthen our communities and our economy. Everyone can help by taking simple steps like using public transit and conserving energy."
Ozone levels are unhealthy when average concentrations exceed 0.075 parts per million over an 8-hour period. Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen chemically react in the presence of sunlight. Last November, E.P.A. suggests strengthening the ozone standard, based on extensive scientific evidence about ozone's effects, and will be finalizing its decision on a new ozone standard soon.
Although the 2015 ozone season is ending, pollution from small particles in the air is a year-round concern. Daily air quality forecasts will continue to be accessible online, as well as email alerts when high concentrations of ground-level ozone or small particles are predicted to occur.
More information:
- Sign up for Free air quality forecasts http://www.epa.gov/ne/aqi/
- Historical charts of unhealthy air days from 1983 through 2015: www.epa.gov/ne/airquality/standard.html
- Preliminary list of the unhealthy readings recorded this summer by date and monitor location, and corresponding air quality maps for each day: www.epa.gov/region1/airquality/o3exceed-15.html
