DSM faces declining air quality while most U.S. cities improve
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Des Moines' air quality is deteriorating, with fine particle pollution rising more than 7% over the last decade, according to year-over-year EPA data.
Why it matters: A growing body of research shows that polluted air is connected to poor reproductive outcomes, increased dementia risk, and more asthma attacks and other respiratory health effects.
Zoom in: Most of Iowa's metro areas showed improvements ranging from 2.3% to 5.1% in reduced fine particles, including Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Muscatine and Waterloo.
- Sioux City saw the largest increase, almost 15%.
- Iowa City's increased 1.2%
The big picture: Nationally, 62% of metro areas improved their air quality, particularly those in central California and east of the Mississippi.
- Increases were predominantly in the Upper Midwest and northern California.
Context: Extreme heat, wildfires and drought are degrading air quality nationwide and have left nearly half of Americans exposed to potentially dangerous levels of air pollution, according to a report released last month by the American Lung Association (ALA).
- The 2023 wildfire season, including those in Canada, led to residents of DSM being exposed to significantly higher levels of fine particle pollution.
Between the lines: Fine particulate matter is a strong indicator of pollution, but it doesn't capture everything. Conditions can be worse than what your weather app shows.
- If you smell smoke, even when the Air Quality Index is green, experts recommend limiting your time outdoors.
What we're watching: There is concern that recent layoffs at the EPA will limit air pollution monitoring, Kristina Hamilton, Iowa Advocacy Director for the ALA, told WOI-TV last month.
- Congress also voted last week to roll back a regulation of the Clean Air Act that is connected to the amount of toxic air pollutants emitted by industrial facilities.