Connecticut's Air Quality Worst in New England

While Connecticut had a drop this summer in the number of days with unhealthy air, it still tops the list with 14 days compared to zero in Vermont.

The Environmental Protection Agency reported that levels decreased from 2010 because emissions of the chemicals that create ozone continue to decline.

Here are the number of unhealthy ozone days in each state this summer:

• 14 days in Connecticut (compared to 24 in 2010)

• 10 day in Rhode Island (15 in 2010)

• 6 days in New Hampshire (6 in 2010)

• 3 days in Massachusetts (6 in 2010)

• 2 days in Maine (9 in 2010)

• 1 day in Vermont (0 in 2010). 

The EPA notes that over the long-term, New England has experienced a decreasing number of unhealthy ozone days over the last 30 years. In 1983, New England had 113 unhealthy days, compared with 16 this summer.

The decline is based on new emission standards resulting in vehicles that are 77 to 95 percent cleaner than older models. To continue the effort the EPA in July announced the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, that requires 27 states to significantly reduce power plant emissions that contribute to ozone and/or fine particle pollution.

The daily air quality index forecast is available as are historical charts for unhealthy air days  from 1983 through 2011: www.epa.gov/ne/airquality/standard.html.