Something in the air

Don’t let regional progress be stalled by pollution

Although the American Lung Association’s new report castigating the region’s air quality is a blow to Pittsburgh’s ego, the truth can’t be denied. The area needs to do more to combat air pollution. Like population loss and aging infrastructure, bad air is part of Pittsburgh’s industrial legacy.

Economic decline was part of that legacy, too, but the city has boomeranged back thanks to its universities, health care institutions and success in attracting high-tech corporate citizens like Google, Uber and Argo. It’s taken time to build the new economy — it’s still a work in progress in many respects — and repairing the environment will take time also. Of course, that’s little consolation to children with pollution-inflamed asthma and the civic leaders trying to bring Amazon’s second headquarters here.

The association’s annual report decries Pittsburgh’s air every year. The latest version, released Wednesday, ranked air quality in the Pittsburgh region —including parts of Ohio and West Virginia — as 10th worst among 201 regions nationwide for short-term particulate pollution. That’s down from 17th worst last year, partly because of the robust improvement rates in other regions. Allegheny County received failing grades for three varieties of air pollution — ozone as well as short-term and year-round particulates — and it was the only county outside of California with that dubious distinction.

The damning assessment of Pittsburgh’s air may seem jarring given the national attention paid to Pittsburgh’s hot economy and cool amenities. It’s important to remember that the quality of air varies from community to community, and the association has been criticized for a methodology that gives greatest weight to data from regions’ dirtiest areas. But post-industrial Pittsburgh must face facts: Our picturesque biking trails run along waterways still fouled by industrial pollution and sewer overflows. Roads and bridges are crumbling. The city’s drinking water contains elevated levels of lead. The air still needs work, too.

There are fewer manufacturers here than there used to be, but those still around emit pollutants. Geography is another culprit; bad air can get trapped between hills and river valleys. Global warming is an issue, too. “With record-setting heat in 2016, high ozone days zoomed, putting millions more people at risk and adding challenges to the work cities are doing across the nation to clean up,” the report said.

While progress is needed on various infrastructure and environmental fronts, the good news is, Pittsburgh is mobilizing on many of them. Karen Hacker, director of the Allegheny County Health Department, cited headway that’s already been made on air pollution while pledging additional gains through innovative enforcement actions and collaborative ventures with polluters. “This area is on a long-term trend toward improvement,” Dr. Hacker said, “but we have further to go.”

Residents have shown a willingness to bring their own pressure to bear on air polluters, whom they have sued in recent years, and the department, which they have criticized at times for ineffective enforcement efforts. In addition, local university researchers have issued findings on the links between bad air and prevalence of asthma in children. These voices are important; collective action will accelerate the pace of change.

Outside pressure is helpful, too. If the association’s study is an annual reminder of unmet goals, so be it.