Arizonans face hazardous air quality conditions

The American Lung Association released its 27th State of the Air Report on April 22, which coincided with Earth Day.

In past years, it has been shown that more than 80% of people in Arizona live in a county with at least one failing score. Bad air leads to health complications for many people. Maricopa County consistently performs poorly, and again this year, Arizona’s report card was not good.

JoAnna Strother, senior director of advocacy, American Lung Association, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the findings from the organization’s latest State of the Air report.

“What’s different in this year’s report is we actually had more days when ozone reached unhealthy levels in this year’s report,” Strother said. “So it’s the same but worse…we saw more days, which is worse for our health.”

According to Strother, ozone is created when volatile organic compounds and nitrous oxide are present in the presence of sunlight and heat. Ozone can also be referred to as smog and can be observed as a gray haze.

“Ozone sometimes you cannot see,” Strother explained, “…so that’s why it’s always best to check your air quality forecast to see when ozone is high in the day.”

Strother emphasized how climate change is making this problem worse by creating more ozone and making it harder to clean up.

“We are coming into Wild Fire season here in Arizona,” Strother discussed, “…wildfires have become more catastrophic, which are definitely adding to the burden here as well.”

Strother explained how, being in the valley, Arizona has weather inversion patterns, where cool air stays in the valley, and warm air that traps it.

“…and when that air is pollutant, and comes stagnant,” Strother said, “…it can stay for hours, even days. So we’d be breathing in that polluted air for a long time.”