Top Five Most Polluted Cities in the U.S.: Eugene-Springfield Ranks Fourth
In a new report from the American Lung Association, Eugene-Springfield made the list of top five most polluted cities in the U.S. when it comes to air pollution.
The “State of the Air” Report
The “State of the Air” report finds that spikes in deadly particle pollution are the worst they’ve been in America in 25 years. Fine particulate matter air pollution, or soot, comes from wildfires, wood-burning stoves, and diesel engines.
Eugene-Springfield’s Pollution Ranking
Eugene-Springfield is listed as the fourth most polluted city for both short-term and year-round particle pollution.
“We agree that placing on the list is certainly troubling,” said Travis Knudsen with the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency. “And because of wildfire contributions that we’ve seen become more common and growing due to our warming and drying climate—it is something we are likely to see move forward into the future.”
Particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks and strokes and can also cause lung cancer.
Knudsen said while there are ways to mitigate human-caused particle air pollution—like reducing the use of wood stoves—wildfires are harder, sometimes impossible to control.
“Each late summer and into the fall we see the forest get dry because of the heat, we see the lack of rain and that’s when the fires begin,” he said. “It creates that particulate matter pollution from that smoke that is picked up on our monitors that the American Lung Association looks at when they’re making that judgement.”
Not Just One Bad Year
The air pollution ranking for Eugene-Springfield isn’t based on just one smoky year. The recently released “State of the Air” report includes the most recent quality-assured data from 2020-2022. The report was also updated to reflect the new annual particle pollution standard that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized in February 2024.
The report also covers years that include the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite speculation that behavioral changes during pandemic shutdowns would result in improved air quality, the report shows that poor air quality continued to impact millions of people. Notable reasons include freight and goods movement on heavy-duty trucks, rail, and ports. Additionally, wildfire smoke threatened lung health in many communities during these years.
The 2024 report reveals that people in the U.S. experienced the most days with “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality due to particle pollution in 25 years.
Places Doing Better or Worse
Bakersfield, California ranked as the city most polluted by both short-term and year-round particle pollution.
Ground-level ozone pollution is a powerful respiratory irritant with effects likened to a “sunburn of the lungs.” The American Lung Association ranked Los Angeles-Long Beach, California the city most polluted by ozone pollution.
Bangor, Maine and Wilmington, North Carolina were among the “leanest U.S. cities, according to the report, when measuring for ozone and particle pollution days and levels.
The report finds that in total, 131 million people, or 39% of Americans, are living in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution.
In a statement, the American Lung Association said that EPA recently finalized new air pollution rules that will help clean up particle pollution and address climate change, such as the updated particle pollution standards, a rule to place stricter limits on tailpipe emissions from new cars, and a rule to clean up truck pollution.
The Lung Association added it is urging EPA to set long-overdue stronger national limits on ozone pollution. Stronger limits would help people protect themselves and drive cleanup of polluting sources across the country.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
- Indicator: Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
- Indicator: Air quality index and levels of particulate matter pollution in cities.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
- Indicator: Frequency and intensity of wildfires and their contribution to air pollution.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | Number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. | Air quality index and levels of particulate matter pollution in cities. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | Frequency and intensity of wildfires and their contribution to air pollution. |
Analysis
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SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article discusses the impact of air pollution on health, specifically mentioning that particle pollution can trigger asthma attacks, strokes, and lung cancer. This aligns with SDG 3, which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all. Target 3.9 focuses on reducing deaths and illnesses from air pollution, which is relevant to the issues highlighted in the article. The indicator mentioned in the article is the number of deaths and illnesses attributed to air pollution.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article highlights Eugene-Springfield as one of the most polluted cities in the U.S. when it comes to air pollution. This connects to SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Target 11.6 specifically mentions paying special attention to air quality in cities. The indicator mentioned in the article is the air quality index and levels of particulate matter pollution in cities.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
The article mentions that wildfires contribute to particle pollution and that their frequency and intensity are influenced by climate change. This relates to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Target 13.1 emphasizes strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The indicator mentioned in the article is the frequency and intensity of wildfires and their contribution to air pollution.
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Fuente: klcc.org
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