Pittsburgh's Air Quality Makes You Want To Hold Your Breath

PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh's air quality is among the worst in Pennsylvania, according to a new report from environmental and public interest advocacy groups. In 2020, the Pittsburgh area had nearly two months - 57 days - of unhealthy air.

The 73-page "Trouble in the Air" report from Environment America, U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Frontier Group, totaled the number of days that exceeded federal guidelines for ozone

or particulate matter pollution in urban and rural areas across the U.S.

Pittsburgh had 40 days of elevated particulate levels and 26 days of elevated ozone in 2020, the most days of any city in the state. The city's overall 57 days of unhealthy air was tied for sixth-worst.

Unhealthy air was not exclusive to the state's larger metropolitan areas last year. Altoona, Johnstown and Erie were among the smaller cities with more than 25 unhealthy air days in 2020. Johnstown had the same number of unhealthy air quality days in 2020 as Pittsburgh despite having 180,000 fewer residents.

View the full report here.

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