New England Sees Fewer Unhealthy Air Quality Days in 2020
Five out of the six New England states had equal or fewer unhealthy air quality days from ozone pollution, compared to last year. Rhode Island had more, but still fewer than average.
By: Tim Studebaker
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – New England’s air quality improved during the 2020 ozone season, as compared to last year. The EPA says air quality monitors throughout New England registered 18 unhealthy ozone days in 2020, compared to 23 last year.
Darren Austin is an Air Quality Specialist with the Rhode Island DEM. Austin says, “Things didn’t really get going until July, specifically in Rhode Island. But, it was definitely a down year for all of New England.”
Ozone pollution typically spikes during the spring and summer months. That’s because ozone is formed when sunlight interacts with other pollutants, typically during hot and sunny weather.
Austin says, “It doesn’t come out of your tailpipe. It doesn’t come out of a power plant. But, the pollutants that lead to ozone do. We call it – it’s a secondary pollutant.”
This year, limited sunshine during a cool, wet spring helped keep ozone days low early in the season. On top of that, fewer cars on the road as a result of the pandemic may have helped.
Austin says, “It did look like when the lockdowns began, the traffic patterns really fell off a cliff for March and April.”
Five of the six New England states either saw fewer ozone days or stayed the same compared to last year. Rhode Island’s count actually went up, from two days last year to four this year. But, Austin points out that’s still below the average of about 10.
Austin says, “Just the big picture here is that ozone and air quality in general have been improving in Rhode Island, steadily, for upwards of 4 decades.”
The EPA says the same for New England, pointing out a decrease from 118 unhealthy ozone days in New England in 1983 to this year’s 18.
© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2020
