‘It was a little bit of a mixed bag’: New NC air quality report shows some improvements, some problems

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A new report on air quality in North Carolina has mixed results. New findings from the American Lung Association show some signs of improvement and some cause for concern.

“It was a little bit of a mixed bag. So the ozone, smog increased in that area,” said Danna Thompson, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in North Carolina. “Dirty air is a dangerous public health issue. It causes people to suffer immediate and potentially fatal medical problems.”

Thompson said the rising ozone levels in the state are concerning. Exposure to ozone pollution can have serious health effects.

“It can kill living cells on contact. When inhaled, ozone damages the tissues and the respiratory tract, causing irritation and inflammation. Think of a sunburn of the lung,” Thompson said.

It is not all bad news. The report found particle pollution remains low, even after the EPA approved stricter standards.

Despite some of the report’s concerns, the North Carolina Division of Air Quality said we are breathing the cleanest air in decades.

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