New England unhealthy air-quality days in past six months up over last year

Deviating from a long-term reduction trend, New England experienced a slight uptick in the number of unhealthy air-quality days between April and September of this year, compared with the same period in the previous two years, with 24 days of ozone concentrations above healthy levels, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently said in a release.

Connecticut experienced the majority of these days, with 22, while Rhode Island had 4, Massachusetts had 3, Maine and New Hampshire each had two and Vermont had none. The total figure of 24 unhealthy air quality days was an increase from 2013, which had 20, and 2014, which had nine -- but it was a significant reduction compared with data from 1983, which had 113 unhealthy days. The EPA said the long-term decline is due to reductions in emissions that cause ozone.

“All Americans should feel proud of the progress we have made in reducing ozone pollution over the past several decades,” EPA New England Office Regional Administrator Curt Spalding said. “Cleaner and healthier air benefits everybody and helps strengthen our communities and our economy. Everyone can help by taking simple steps, like using public transit and conserving energy.”