RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A new report on air quality in North Carolina has mixed results. New findings from the American Lung Association show some signs of improvement and some cause for concern.
“It was a little bit of a mixed bag. So the ozone, smog increased in that area,” said Danna Thompson, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in North Carolina. “Dirty air is a dangerous public health issue. It causes people to suffer immediate and potentially fatal medical problems.”
Thompson said the rising ozone levels in the state are concerning. Exposure to ozone pollution can have serious health effects.
“It can kill living cells on contact. When inhaled, ozone damages the tissues and the respiratory tract, causing irritation and inflammation. Think of a sunburn of the lung,” Thompson said.
It is not all bad news. The report found particle pollution remains low, even after the EPA approved stricter standards.
Despite some of the report’s concerns, the North Carolina Division of Air Quality said we are breathing the cleanest air in decades.
“We are seeing less pollution in the ambient air that we’re monitoring,” spokesperson Shawn Taylor said.
Taylor said emissions are also down, including from the sources that contribute to ozone pollution.
“Cars and trucks on our streets today are much, much cleaner than they were in years past,” he said.
More from FOX8
North Carolina News
While there are a few days a year when ozone levels can rise enough for a short-term alert, Taylor said the number of those days is also down, and there are precautions people can take.
“The number one thing that you can do is to limit your time outdoors, really exerting yourself,” Taylor said.
The American Lung Association is calling on the EPA to pass stricter standards for ozone pollution. Thompson also said on an individual level, people can limit the use of gas-powered cars.