For Better Health
THE NEWTOWN BEE, FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019
Lung Association Report Card Shows ‘State Of The Air’ Putting Health, Lives At Risk By Shannon Hicks The American Lung Association’s (ALA) 2019 “State of the Air” report found Fairfield County suffers from the highest level of ozone in the New York City metroarea, which was ranked number ten on the most ozone polluted list. Released on April 24, the annual air quality “report card” tracks Americans’ exposure to unhealthful levels of ozone or particle pollution, both of which can be deadly. The Hartford-East Hartford metro area was ranked the 23rd most polluted city in the nation for ozone. “State of the Air” annually provides a report card on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution (also known as smog) and particle pollution (aka soot). The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: through average annual particle pollution levels and short-term spikes in particle pollution. Ozone and particle pollution are both dangerous to public health and can increase the risk of premature death and other serious health effects such as lung cancer, asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage, and developmental and reproductive harm. Ruth Canovi, the director of advocacy/public policy for ALA-Connecticut, said residents of this state should be aware that “we’re breathing unhealthy air, driven by emissions from power plants and extreme heat as a result of climate change, placing our health and lives at risk. “In addition to challenges here in Connecticut, the 20th anniversary ‘State of the Air’ report highlights that more than four in ten Americans are living with unhealthy air, and we must do more to protect public health,” she added via press release issued concurrent with the report card. Ms Canovi said that nearly every resident of the state is exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone air pollution. Across the board, all eight of Connecticut’s counties received grades of F this year for its High Ozone Days. According to ALA data, nearly 950,000 people called Fairfield County home as of the 2016 US Census. Of that figure, 27,711 had pediatric asthma, and another 79,093 had adult asthma. Pediatric asthma estimates are for those age 17 and under, while those age 18 and over were considered in the adult asthma range. In addition, 42,044 Fairfield County residents suffered from COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; 71,130 had been diagnosed with diabetes; and 549 residents had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Having diabetes increases the risk of harm from particle pollution, according to ALA. Economic Factors Matter In addition, 82,428 Fairfield County residents live under the poverty level. Evidence shows people who
Dr John Chronakos —photo courtesy Western Connecticut Health Network have low incomes may face higher risk from air pollution, also according to the association. “Ozone especially harms children, older adults and those with asthma and other lung diseases,” said Ms Canovi. “When older adults or children with asthma breathe ozone-polluted air, too often they end up in the doctor’s office, the hospital or the emergency room. Ozone can even shorten life itself.” Jeff Seyler, chief division officer of the ALA, offered additional bad news upon the release of this year’s report. “The 2018 ‘State of the Air’ report finds that unhealthful levels of ozone found throughout Connecticut puts our residents at risk for premature death and other serious health effects, such as asthma attacks and greater difficulty breathing for those living with a lung disease like COPD,” he said. “The Northeast suffers because much of the country’s air pollution ends up settling here, earning the moniker ‘the tailpipe of the nation.’”
C-ONE
‘State Of The Air’ Report Card ABCs & 123s 4+ in 10… number of Americans living with unhealthy air; Nearly 133.9 million… number of Americans living in unhealthy air;
Across the country, he pointed out, the 2019 report found continued improvement in air quality. Nevertheless, “more than four in ten Americans — 133.9 million — live in counties that have unhealthful levels of either ozone or particle pollution, where their health is at risk,” he said.
Nearly 950,000… number of people living in Fairfield County;
More Patients Affected Dr John Chronakos, a pulmonologist with Western Connecticut Health Network, said he and his colleagues are seeing an uptick in patients with breathing issues brought on by the local less-than-stellar air quality. “Particularly this year, we have a lot of people with underlying lung disease that are having issues that are attributed to the air quality and the particulate matters,” Dr Chronakos said May 9. “We definitely see this all the time.” The 2019 “State of the Air” covers the most recent quality-assured data available collected by states, cities, counties, tribes, and federal agencies in 2015–17. Notably, those three years were the hottest recorded in global history. Dr Chronakos suggests using alerts made available through weather websites to be aware of days when the air quality index or pollen levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels. “Being aware of those, and heeding those if you have underlying lung disease, is the most reasonable thing to do,” Dr Chronakos said. “If people heeded that, they’d be better off with their breathing.” Lung issues, he said, can lead to people having trouble breathing. Simple tasks become very challenging, he added. “They can be short of breath or have difficulty breathing, to the point of having trouble showering, walking to the mailbox, or preparing meals,” he said. “Coughing is a big concern,” he added, “especially with phlegm production. That can be difficult to cough up and clear, especially because of its stickiness.”
549… number of Fairfield County residents diagnosed with lung cancer;
Nearly 83,000… number of Fairfield County children with asthma; 296,000+…. number of Fairfield County adults with asthma; 167,000+… number of Fairfield County adults with COPD; 71,130… number of Fairfield County residents with diabetes; 82,428… number of Fairfield County residents living at or below poverty level; F… ALA’s Ozone grade for Fairfield County this year; A… ALA’s Particle Pollution 24-hour grade for Fairfield County this year; Pass… ALA’s overall Particle Pollution Annual Grade for Fairfield County this year. —compiled from American Lung Association data
Ozone Pollution Compared to the 2018 report, Fairfield, New Haven, New London, and Windham counties experienced more unhealthy days of high ozone in this year’s report, with Fairfield alone reporting a total of 69 Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Populations) and Red (Unhealthy) bad air days. Windham County’s increased bad air days — from seven in the 2018 report to ten in the 2019 report — caused its grade to drop from a D to an F. While other counties, including Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, and Tolland, experienced fewer bad ozone days than reported in 2018, the reduction was not enough to improve their failing grades. “Ozone particulates in the Connecticut area is something for people to monitor,” Dr Chronakos said.
Peter Licht, M.D. • Jennifer Holloway, M.D. Susan K. Licht, P.A.-C. • Andrew Barlow, P.A.-C., Alexis Walker, P.A.-C
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