Mountain West Cities Face Struggles with Air Pollution
Air quality continues to be a significant issue across the Mountain West, with several cities ranking high in the latest pollution assessments. The American Lung Association’s State of the Air report highlights the prevalence of ozone pollution, or smog, and fine particle pollution caused by factors such as wildfire smoke and vehicle emissions.
In a nationwide ranking for ozone pollution, Phoenix stands fourth, with Denver, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City occupying the eighth, eleventh, and thirteenth positions, respectively. Additionally, Fort Collins ranks eighteenth, Albuquerque nineteenth, and Boise twenty-fourth.
According to Melissa Ramos, senior manager for clean air advocacy at the American Lung Association, climate change is exacerbating these conditions. “Extreme heat is a serious issue among Mountain West states, and that essentially drives up a lot of the pollution that we’re seeing,” Ramos explained.
The unique geography of the region, characterized by valleys and basins, can trap polluted air, while increasing wildfire incidents contribute additional pollutants. Wildfires are burning longer and more intensely, as noted in a recent study on climate change impacts.
While the report shows mixed results for fine particle pollution, northern Nevada’s Reno area has shown improvement and no longer ranks among the top 25 for PM2.5 pollution. Ramos attributes this to fewer extreme wildfire events reflected in the data, but cautions that without sustained efforts, progress may be temporary. Nationally, over 40% of Americans reside in regions with at least one failing air quality grade.
Ramos emphasizes the need for systemic changes to combat pollution: “If we can be transitioning away from fossil fuels and investing more in clean energy and clean transportation options, that’s going to reduce a lot of the pollution that we’re seeing,” she said.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between KUNR, Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNC in Northern Colorado, KANW in New Mexico, Colorado Public Radio, KJZZ in Arizona and NPR, with additional support from affiliate newsrooms across the region. Funding for the Mountain West News Bureau is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Eric and Wendy Schmidt.
