Here’s why Whatcom’s air quality declined last year in a national survey
Overall air quality declined in Whatcom County during the past three years because of wildfire smoke that caused hazy skies in two recent hot, dry summers, according to an annual nationwide survey.
In its “State of the AIr” report, the American Lung Association examined data from measuring stations across Whatcom County, looking at ozone levels, tiny airborne particles and the number of days each location had unhealthy air.
Data covered the years 2016-18, according to the report.
Whatcom County air quality received an F grade for 24-hour particle pollution because of the effects from wildfire smoke, the Northwest Clean Air Agency said in a statement Tuesday.
“We expected this because of the wildfire smoke in back-to-back summers,” said Mark Buford, the Northwest Clean Air Agency’s executive director. “And we expect next year’s report will be similar because data from 2017 and 2018 will again be included.”
Whatcom County received a “B” for ozone pollution, likely because wildfire smoke contributed to two days of higher-than-usual ozone readings in 2018, the air agency said.
Even though the smoky skies caused sharp temporary dips in air quality, the Bellingham metro area tied with Syracuse-Auburn, N.Y., for seventh overall among U.S. cities with the least year-round particle pollution.
Last year, Whatcom County received an overall A grade for ozone, a C for 24-hour particle pollution and a “pass” for annual particle pollution, according to the report.
Smoke from wildfires in British Columbia, Eastern Washington and California fouled the late summer skies over Western Washington in 2017 and 2018, and scientists think that because of climate change it could become the new norm.
Bellingham saw some of its worst air historically in 2018, with two August days in the “very unhealthy” range for particulates.
Another warm, dry summer is forecast for the West, leading officials to fear a return of smoky skies.
An April 1 report from the National Interagency Fire Center sees “significant” wildfire potential for Eastern Washington, most of Oregon and Northern California in July 2020.
