Allegheny Co. Air Quality Meets Federal Standard for 2023, Fee Schedule Changes Key to Continued Progress

Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) this week released its 2023 Air Quality Annual Report, which shows the county has met the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 2023.

It’s the third straight year that NAAQS were met.

“This is what we all - ACHD, air quality groups, residents, and elected leaders - have been working together to make a reality: That Allegheny County’s air quality continues to improve,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “Do we still have air quality issues that impact our public health and perennial polluters mucking up our skies? Absolutely. Is our work done?  No. And we have to be cognizant that that work will be so much more difficult for ACHD to tackle without the proper funding. To be clear: The languishing permit fee schedule will only make progress a longer slog. We hope county council is paying attention because their constituents certainly are.” 

He added:

“Levels of pollution in some parts of the county do not attain the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5, and that also needs to be addressed.”

Here’s what officials said in a press release:

The Allegheny County Health Department's 2023 Air Quality Annual Report shows the county's measures have met the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 2023. 

The data from nine monitoring locations throughout Allegheny County is submitted to and accepted by the EPA. The data shows that for a third year in a row all federal standards have been met, including Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) which is particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less. Particulate matter is a type of air pollution consisting of tiny particles like smoke or car exhaust.

"Our monitoring network is one of the more robust in the Country. The citing and operations of the network are approved by the US EPA and as such, we are very confident in the data from our regulatory monitoring network." said Geoff Rabinowitz, Allegheny County Health Department Bureau of Environmental Health Deputy Director.

In 2023 the Eastern Canadian wildfires caused spikes in the Air Quality Index (AQI) across much of the eastern United States. In late June particulate matter from the wildfires caused the highest 24-hour PM2.5 AQI measurements in the county since PM2.5 became a federal standard. Even with the Canadian wildfire event the county was still in attainment for the PM2.5 annual standard.

"The Canadian Wildfire event was concerning, it's been over 20 years since we have experienced major wildfire pollution like it," says Jason Maranche, Planning and Data Assessment Manager for Allegheny County's Air Quality program. "We are glad the data shows the county has maintained all federal standards again despite outlier events."

Although standards were met, the health department still has important work to do. Areas like Liberty, North Braddock, and Parkway East, generally recorded worse air quality than other parts of the county. For example, in 2023 the 24-hours standard for PM2.5 was exceeded in the Liberty area six times.

In addition to federally regulated pollutants, Liberty had 103 exceedance days and North Braddock had 38 days for the 24-hour Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) state standard.

"While the county as a whole continues to meet federal standards overall, Sulfur Dioxide (S02) exceedances, Ozone exceedances, and frequent hydrogen sulfide exceedances suggest ongoing air quality challenges. Every exceedance of federal, state, and County standards could potentially impact public health, especially vulnerable populations," said Dr. Iulia Vann, Public Health Director for the Allegheny County Health Department. "We must continue to address the damage from air pollution in order to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of Allegheny County residents."

The annual report shares data and descriptions for all federal criteria pollutants and includes data on Pennsylvania state standards, hazardous air pollutants, health effects, AQI, and information on the air monitoring network. 

Visit the Air Quality Reports and Studies webpage for quarterly reports, annual reports, and additional studies on unique air quality issues. 

The Allegheny County Health Department will use the 2023 Air Quality Annual Report as an opportunity to inform local communities on key takeaways like air quality impacts and the activities of the air quality program. 

The department is hoping to put out dates for those public outreach events in the next few weeks.

Editor's Note: We will keep you posted on those public outreach events. Stay tuned!