Ohio County Gets High Marks for Air Quality in American Lung Association Report
Shelley Hanson WHEELING -- Ohio County received some high marks regarding its air quality in the American Lung Association's 2022 "State of the Air" report.
This latest report uses data collected between 2018 and 2020 and includes information regarding high ozone days and particle pollution.
Ozone, aka smog, is created when pollutants, such as smoke and volatile organic compounds, mix with sunlight.
Particle pollution is a mixture of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air that are breathed in. The particles are created by either mechanical means, such as dust from construction, farming or even brake pad wear, or chemical means, such as the combustion of fuels or wildfires.
Ohio County received a "B" grade regarding high ozone days and an "A" grade regarding particle pollution.
Dr. Robert Herron, a thoracic surgeon at the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute at Wheeling Hospital, described Ohio County's air quality grades as "very good."
"We should be very proud of that," he said.
Herron noted, as recommended by the American Lung Association, there are ways to reduce air pollution even more.
And individuals can help by riding bikes or walking when they can or using public transportation to help reduce vehicle emissions.
"Every little bit helps," he added.
Ohio County's air quality index reached the orange level on two days. Orange means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups. "Children, active adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion," according to ALA.
The air quality index range begins with green, which is good air quality, and includes yellow, orange, red, purple and maroon, which is the most hazardous air, meaning "everyone should avoid physical activity outdoors."
Herron noted air pollution affects people with conditions such as asthma and COPD more because it irritates the lungs. He noted, in general, air pollution likely is not as harmful as smoking cigarettes, but can still be harmful if one is exposed frequently.
"Both are not good, but when you think about smoking you are directly putting toxins into the lungs," he said. "Smoking in terms of individuals being exposed to toxins is worse."
Meanwhile, the Wheeling metro area, which includes Ohio and Marshall counties in West Virginia and Belmont County in Ohio, "ranked 117 for high ozone days out of the 226 metropolitan areas," according to ALA.
It also tied first for "cleanest metropolitan areas in the country for 24-hour particle pollution." And it ranked 81 for "annual particle pollution out of 202 metropolitan areas."
Herron said he was happy with the grades to given to surrounding counties as well, but noted "we've got to keep doing our part."
The ALA includes a list of "groups at risk" in its report. For the Wheeling metro area, with a total population of 137,217, this includes 2,180 children with pediatric asthma; 12,493 adults with asthma; 12,680 with COPD; 97 with lung cancer; 14,480 with heart disease; 1,257 pregnancies; 26,070 children younger than 18 years old; 30,923 adults older than 65 years old; 18,976 people estimated to be in poverty; and 9,358 people of color.
Nationally, there were 156 counties in the United States that received an "F" grade for ozone, affecting 122.3 million people.
"That is fewer than in the past four reports, but more than the 116.5 million people in the 2017 report. There are still a lot of vulnerable people, including 27.8 million children and 18.5 million people age 65 or older, who are exposed to ozone air pollution and face an increased risk of harm," according to ALA.
The city with the most polluted air continues to be Los Angeles, California. The top cities with the cleanest air regarding year-round particle pollution included Cheyenne, Wyoming.