READING, Pa. – Fresh air is something many of us take for granted, but a new report from the American Lung Association is raising red flags.
The group’s latest “State of the Air” report gave the Philadelphia–Reading–Camden region straight F’s.
“If we compare back 20 to 30 years, we are much improved. The Clean Air Act has definitely worked. We’re seeing less pollutants in our atmosphere, but we still do have some short-term issues with air quality days,” said Bethany Ayers, sustainability manager for the City of Reading.
But experts say the full picture is more complicated.
“Occasionally, we get ozone pollution at the ground level, and that’s very irritating to our lungs. So if you have asthma, emphysema, even recovering from COVID, it’s an extra irritant to your lungs. Particulate matter, things like dust, smoke from wildfires or even cigarettes, car exhaust can all impact our air quality as well,” Ayers said.
And here in the Reading area, geography plays a role.
“We tend to see that more in the wintertime. So if you see a bad air quality day, particularly in December or January, particularly if we’re getting some fog, that’s what’s happening to our atmosphere,” she said.
So, what can we do to help?
“Can you reduce the number of trips you’re taking? Carpool more often. Ride your bike. All of those things help improve air quality,” Ayers said.
The report also found more than one million children in Pennsylvania are breathing unhealthy air.
Experts say staying informed and making small changes can help improve air quality over time.
“We should be concerned about maintaining our air quality and continuing to improve our air quality. But for most people, I don’t think it’s a ‘Oh my gosh, we have a huge problem; report. But there’s definitely room for improvement,” Ayers said.