Most air in Oklahoma is clean but needs improvement in OKC and Tulsa

The American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report found many cities across the U.S. experienced more ozone and more particle pollution from 2015 to 2017. It also revealed eastern Oklahoma had some of the cleanest air.

When it came to the cleanest cities for ozone air pollution, the region made up of Miami in northeast Oklahoma and Joplin in southwest Missouri made the list. So did the region of Fort Smith, Arkansas and its neighboring area across the state line in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma City made the list of cleanest cities for short-term particle pollution.

No cities in Oklahoma made any of the lists for most polluted places when it comes to ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution.

The report showed that overall, Oklahoma fared well in the report. However, Oklahoma County received a “D” and Tulsa County a “C” on the state’s report card. Most counties did not have a grad

 

The “State of the Air” 2019 report shows that too many cities across the nation increased the number of days when particle pollution, often called “soot,” soared to often record-breaking levels. More cities suffered from higher numbers of days when ground-level ozone, also known as “smog,” reached unhealthy levels. Many cities saw their year-round levels of particle pollution increase as well.

The Lung Association said the report is also evidence “that a changing climate is making it harder to protect human health.”

Click here to read entire report.