American Lung Association releases new data in State of the Air report

DELMARVA – The American Lung Association (ALA) is revealing new data on air quality in its annual State of the Air report.

Eastern Shore of Maryland’s Metrics

In the Salisbury-Cambridge, MD-DE metropolitan area, researchers found that levels of smog were highest in Dorchester County. However, the county also set the area’s new best-ever record, and posted the area’s first “B” grade, improving the metro area’s rank from 65th worst in last year’s report to 116th worst.

2024 marked Dorchester County’s 9th, and the metro area’s 13th, consecutive years ranked among the nation’s cleanest for daily measure of particle pollution. However, year-round average particle pollution levels worsened, compared to last year.

The levels still remain low enough to rank the area as tied for the nation’s 16th cleanest among 204 metro areas.

Lower Delaware’s Data

Researchers attribute the Salisbury-Cambridge, MD-DE metropolitan area’s clean air honor to what they called “the longevity of Sussex County’s performance.” Sussex County earned its second “A” grade by recording zero days with unhealthy levels of ozone.

Kent County also earned an “A” grade, however researchers say county data for year-round measures of particle pollution continued to be incomplete statewide for the second straight reporting year.

Delaware’s metro areas also improved their best-ever results for ozone smog.

Caring About the Air

Aleks Casper, director of advocacy for the ALA, says the general improvements seen in this year’s report are thanks to federal efforts. However, Casper added, that fighting against climate change will be crucial in continuing that betterment.

“I think [this year’s changes are] attributable to the Clean Air Act, and efforts to clean up the air,” Casper said. “As we see temperature increase, it makes it harder to clean up the air. It also makes wildfires more common and more severe.”

Casper stressed that improving air quality may come in increments, but keeping the big picture in mind is important; focusing on air quality in one small area would be a major misstep in the mission of improving overall lung health, she said.

“The report can’t be looked at in isolation,” Casper said. “We have to look at it as a whole, because we know that people move, and air moves.”

Poor Air Quality Impacts Health

Pollution and other spurs of climate change may negatively impact air quality. However, doctors say that other factors may be at play for individuals living on the Delmarva Peninsula.

“There can be both of these types of emissions in agriculture; there can be coarse particles in the air from things like dirt,” said Johns Hopkins pediatric pulmonologist, Dr. Christy Sadreameli. “That’s just an easy example, but there can also be fine particle pollution coming out from diesel.”

Particle pollution and high ozone levels have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and stroke. Dr. Sadreameli says it can also increase the risk of developing other health conditions, like asthma.

And when you are already living with a cardiovascular disease, Dr. Sadreameli says poor air quality only exacerbates the symptoms.

“There are acute and chronic effects. Some, you will feel immediately,” Dr. Sadreameli said. “Some are invisible and accrue over time, where there are serious concerns with the lungs and the cardiovascular system.”

“Canary in a coal mine”

Katja Fort Rhoden is just one Marylander advocating for respiratory health. And while she says she doesn’t want to come off as an alarmist, she does call herself, and others living with lung health complications, a “canary in a coal mine.”

Originally hailing from the Bay Area in California, Rhoden often wonders how the air quality she experienced during childhood, may be impacting her health battles as an adult.

In the ALA’s most recent State of the Air report, Alameda County, Calif. received an “F” grade for both ozone and 24-hour particle pollution, as well as a “fail” for annual particle pollution.

Rhoden lives with COPD, and is a double lung transplant survivor. While she does what she can to manage her lung health, some days are harder than others, especially when air quality dips. Some instances end with a trip to the hospital.

“You can’t participate in life,” Rhoden said. “You’re using more of your medicine, you might have an asthma attack, you’re wheezing, you might experience hypoxia. You’re getting headaches, you don’t feel well… It’s this cascading of events where a poor air quality could mean you need to visit the emergency room.”

Navigating New Challenges

Lung health has been top of mind for Rhoden for most of her life, and she says now it’s a topic that she thinks about even more; her eleven-year-old son, Gregory, was also born with a respiratory disease.

“Especially children with asthma and lung disease, you want them moving and exercising because it actually helps their health,” Rhoden said. “But, that then becomes a risk to their health.”

Rhoden says for both Gregory and herself, living with lung disease can be an isolating experience.

“Try to tell an eleven-year-old that he can’t go out and ride bikes with a group of kids at the front door. It’s very traumatizing,” Rhoden said. “[Air quality] is not something you can see; but I can see how it affects him… It’s very hard, as a parent, to pull your child back when you want to see them live their life to the fullest.”

Playing Our Part

Advocates for cleaner air and better lung health say we all have a part to play in the greater mission.

“If don’t pay attention, and we don’t correct what’s happening, then most Americans will start to experience some level of respiratory symptoms, which can lead to disease,” Rhoden said. “I think it’s just really important that people reach out to their representatives, and let their representatives know that people do care about the quality of air.”

Casper says that advocacy groups, like the ALA, will continue their work with lawmakers and policy writers to push for a future of zero emissions. Until then, she says individuals can help by making more environmentally-conscious decisions, and staying informed on air quality day-to-day.

“We’re seeing improvements in ozone, but we’re still at risk. And so, there are many people that are getting too much ozone exposure,” said Dr. Sadreameli. “Take some precautions [on poor air quality days], and minimize your time outdoors. Fortunately, those days are not the majority of days that we have in this area.”