The end of the school year means students will be getting their report cards. Unfortunately, Allegheny County already received a failing grade in the 2024 American Lung Association State of the Air report.
Despite decades of progress, one in three Pennsylvanians live in places with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. That’s over 4 million residents across the commonwealth breathing unhealthy air.
With summer approaching, extreme heat and exposure to ozone affect our children every time they go outside. Air quality is made worse by volatile organic compounds from oil and gas operations, which contribute to ground-level ozone that can worsen respiratory diseases, such as asthma, and damage the lining of little lungs.
There’s a solution available to reduce pollution and protect our health. The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a standard to curb methane pollution from oil and gas operations. Cutting methane is one of the fastest ways to clean our air and protect public health.
Pennsylvania must move quickly to implement protections that cut methane pollution and improve the health of families. Perhaps in summers to come, Allegheny County will finally earn a passing grade and children living in frontline communities can breathe easier.
Vanessa Lynch
Indiana Township The writer is a Pennsylvania field organizer for Moms Clean Air Force.