![]() ![]() When it comes to clean air, Atlanta gets an “F” for ozone pollution. Each month in this 5-month period received an AQI rating of “moderate,” exceeding federal standards. In 2019, Atlanta air quality index levels reached their highest levels from May through September. In Atlanta, smog and periods of elevated particle and ozone pollution tend to coincide in the summer, often reaching dangerous levels. Such comparison draws attention to the often overlooked threat of Atlanta’s particle air pollution. In 2019, Atlanta particle pollution was comparable to, but slightly worse than, more notoriously polluted Bakersfield, California (11.3 µg/m³) and Baltimore, Maryland (11.2 µg/m³). The city meanwhile fails to meet the more stringent World Health Organization (WHO) target for annual PM2.5 exposure of 10 μg/m³. In 2019, Atlanta averaged a PM2.5 level of 11.9 μg/m³ (the federal target is 12 μg/m³). Its passing grade for annual PM2.5 exposure was achieved by a tiny 0.1 μg/m³ margin. While Atlanta has met federal attainment levels for annual and 24-hour PM2.5, 2019 saw increases in both measures. These particles can burrow deep within the lungs, triggering health concerns including asthma, difficulty breathing, and respiratory irritation as well as heart attacks, strokes, and lung cancer. 3įor fine particle pollution, another pollutant of key concern in the area, Atlanta air quality receives a passing grade of “B.” Particle pollution is a mix of ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals, and aerosols that are near microscopic in size. Likely indicative of Georgia ozone challenges, 12 percent of the state’s children suffer from asthma, nearly 50 percent higher the national average. In Fulton county, this includes an estimated 90,736 people with pediatric or adult asthma, 57,077 with COPD, 68,893 with cardiovascular disease, 229,407 children under the age of 18, and 122,730 adults over the age of 65. Sensitive individuals include children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions. 2 On these unhealthy ozone days, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that there is a 35 percent increase in hospital visits for respiratory-related illnesses, mainly among those categorized as “sensitive” to air pollution. Both unhealthy ozone days require hot temperatures and relatively stagnant air.Ītlanta air quality tends to average 40 ‘code orange’ days a year. Orange days describe conditions between AQI 101 and 150, while red days describe conditions when AQI is between 151 and 200. 1 Fulton county, of which Atlanta is the county seat, has failed to meet ozone attainment levels since at least 1996.įederal ozone targets are formatted as a number of days that exceed healthy levels. When breathed in, ozone attacks the lungs by chemically reacting with lung tissue, causing health complications ranging from a cough and difficulty breathing to respiratory infections and premature death.Īccording to the 2020 State of the Air report published by the American Lung Association, Atlanta is rated an “F” for ozone pollution. ![]() Unlike the majority of federally measured air pollutants, which are emitted from various sources of combustion, ozone is formed in the air from the existence of other pollutants reacting under sunlight. Ozone is a highly reactive, highly irritating gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. To better understand smog in Atlanta, it’s important to understand each of these pollution components. Smog is a combination of pollutants, including ozone and particle pollution, that contribute to reduced visibility. ![]()
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