Several Pennsylvania cities place among the top 25 most polluted in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association, which uses data from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Mark H. Anbinder/Flickr
And many Pennsylvania counties, too, fare poorly in ALA ratings on ozone and particle pollution. Of 36 counties for which the organization had data, 16 received a grade of D or F for ozone levels. Of 25 counties with data, nine received a D or F for particle pollution.
The rise in use of natural gas over coal has contributed to a decrease in particulate matter in Pennsylvania’s air. A 2015 report by the United Health Foundation, using EPA data, showed that the state’s air pollution — measured by the public’s exposure to particulate matter — decreased each year but one since 2003.
However, in that report, Pennsylvania still ranked 48th in air quality in the U.S.
Even moderate amounts of air pollution increase the number of children going to emergency rooms for asthma in Allegheny County, a new study finds.
Even though the new review includes data from 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic limited travel, there wasn’t a significant improvement in air quality.
The measure in the state Senate would give the legislature more say on who serves on the Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee.
Fewer cars, less coal-powered electricity, and industrial shutdowns combined with a cool and breezy spring has improved air quality in many areas.
By
Susan Phillips 
Pennsylvania areas showed some improvement in the report, but air quality in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas remains poor.
