The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) has released its 2021 Air Quality Trends Report. The annual report summarizes regional air quality data and examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution levels and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The 2021 Air Quality Report tracks the quality of the air in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit counties for six pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. These are the pollutants for which the federal Clean Air Act requires the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The NAAQS are the maximum allowable concentrations for each pollutant, and they are intended to protect people from adverse health impacts caused by excessive concentrations of pollution.
View report here.
The Trends Report finds the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced mobile emissions in Northeast Ohio. During 2020, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fell by 30% in Northeast Ohio, due to COVID-19 mitigation measures. This decline in travel helped reduce common mobile pollutants; carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) fell to record lows. Since 2010, levels of these pollutants have declined by 37%, 38%, and 35%, respectively. During 2020, on-road greenhouse gas emissions also fell by 36% from 2019 levels.
At the end of 2021, NOACA also posted a survey on air quality awareness in Northeast Ohio. Results of the survey offer insight on the public’s knowledge, perceptions, and actions regarding air quality. The 2021 survey data revealed 54% of the public think daily about the air they breathe, and 63% think they can make the air cleaner. Both of these numbers are up compared to 2018 survey data. This increased interest in outdoor air quality and knowledge about actions suggest a rise in individual concern and knowledge of human impacts on air since the start of the pandemic.
The region remains in nonattainment for ground-level ozone; it has not met the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by its August 2021 attainment date. Despite declining mobile (vehicle) emissions, ozone levels actually rose during 2020—the region exceeded the NAAQS on nine days, up from six in 2019.
According to the 2021 survey, 87% of respondents recognize that outdoor air affects their health, and 88% said air quality affects someone they know, up from 73% and 71%, respectively, in the 2018 survey. The Trends Report supports public opinion: air pollution imposed $6.9-15.5 billion in total health costs on Northeast Ohio. Air pollution was responsible for 639-1,439 premature deaths, 60-546 heart attacks, and 12,975 asthma attacks in the NOACA region.
These trends highlight a major long-term challenge—climate change. “Northeast Ohio has made tremendous strides to improve air quality over the past several decades,” said NOACA Executive Director & CEO Grace Gallucci. “But, as climate change alters weather patterns, it will become even harder for the region to meet federal air quality standards. Climate change represents a major threat to economic development, public health, and quality of life in Northeast Ohio.”
To address the climate crisis, NOACA recently began work on a regional climate action plan. This plan will identify ways to reduce GHG emissions and increase the region’s resilience to threats posed by the changing climate. Throughout the plan’s development, NOACA will continuously engage the public through its interactive NOACA Live site. Individuals can visit the following site to register and share thoughts throughout this process.
https://noacalive.mindmixer.com/
How to Stay Connected
NOACA emphasizes the best way to improve air quality is to educate yourself about air quality issues and make choices to reduce your impact. NOACA issues Air Quality Advisories when the agency predicts pollution levels will be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties. Please sign up to receive the Air Quality Advisories.
Additionally, NOACA manages its Gohio Commute platform to help individuals choose alternative transportation options to drive-alone trips.
