DC, NoVa Region Endured 86 Days With High Levels Of Air Pollution

FAIRFAX, VA -- More than 6 million residents of the greater Washington, D.C region were exposed to 86 days of polluted air in 2018, according to a new report from Environment America Research & Policy Center, Frontier Group and U.S. PIRG Education Fund. The report outlines the potential health risks, both physical and mental, high levels of transportation pollution emissions can have on Americans, especially children, expectant mothers, the elderly and people with serious illnesses.

Entitled Trouble in the Air, the report, based on the latest data from the Environmental Protection Agency, says 108 million Americans experienced over 100 days of degraded air quality. That's equal to a three-month exposure of ground-level ozone — the main portion of smog — as well as particulate pollution at a level above what EPA says presents "little to no risk." These Americans live in 89 large cities, but others living in more rural areas are still exposed to damaging levels, but just less frequently.

"Our message today is clear. No Virginian should have to experience one single day of polluted air, let alone 86 days," said Ellie Reynolds, the clean cars associate with Environment America, at a Tuesday, Jan. 28, press briefing in Fairfax. "That should concern every Virginian because research increasingly suggests there isn't a level of air pollution safe for us to breathe. That means that by simply inhaling, Virginians are at risk of heart disease, respiratory distress, worsened, mental health, cancer, and more."

Environment America, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization seeking to protect America’s air, water and open spaces through research and education, which, along with Frontier Group and U.S. PIRG Education Fund, is rolling out the report in 500 different localities and rural counties across the country this week.

According to the report, research has linked air pollution to a number of health risks. Maternal exposure to ozone and fine particulates, for example, leads to a higher risk of low birth rate, pre-term birth, and stillbirth.

"In truth, we really don't have the data in that granular fashion to be able to say that for every day that we had extremely bad air quality in the DMV, how many days, how many increased number of emergency room visits, for that matter, admissions to the hospital took place," said Dr. Krupal Shah, an internal medicine/pediatrics specialist from Fairfax who was speaking Tuesday on behalf of Virginia Clinicians for Climate Action.

Shah shared anecdotes and examples in general terms of how air pollution would likely exacerbate his patients' illnesses and interfere with their recovery.

"Each one of these patients costs us millions of dollars," Shah said. "So if you want to talk about the economics of clean air, it is very simple. If we prevent even five of these people from meeting their lung transplant or their lung transplant failing, we will have saved ourselves millions."

When looking at the key reasons for this health threatening air pollution, Americans must address the impact the burning of fossil fuels like gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and coal are having on their communities, according to Reynolds.

"By releasing this report, we're simply hoping to draw attention to the idea that no locality should contend with even one day of polluted air," she said. "We're also hoping to draw attention to specific initiatives counties can take to combat those transportation pollution emissions, so that they provide healthier air for their children, their elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses."

The types of policy initiatives that can reduce transportation pollution emissions include making communities more bikeable or walkable and electrifying transit buses and school buses.

In Northern Virginia, for example, Fairfax County Public Schools was chosen recently as one of 16 districts to receive the first phase of electric school buses by the end of 2020 through a Dominion Energy initiative. The other school divisions chosen to receive electric school buses in the first phase are Alexandria, Arlington, Charles City, Chesapeake, Chesterfield, Hampton, Louisa, Middlesex, Norfolk, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince William, Richmond City, Virginia Beach and Waynesboro.

"We want to see our schools be places that set that kind of example, whether that's in solar, whether that's in reducing air pollution as was covered today," said FCPS School Board Member Abrar Omeish (At-Large), who attended Tuesday's press briefing as an observer. "It's really important to me that local activists know that folks who are in public office are supportive and it's just a matter of figuring out how we can do it and making sure we're on track."