It’s hard to watch the news or read the papers these days without some mention of the environment – from global warming to the effects of air pollution on our health and safety. The recent scandal at Volkswagen only reinforces the need for continued vigilance around our choices and efforts to ensure a safe future for our planet.
In order to look at the current state of Virginia with regards to air quality, we turned to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Report. Using their latest data set from 2011, the CDC calculated seasonal averages and daily measurements throughout the state to determine which counties had the highest levels of fine particulate matter per cubic meter or PM2.5. According to County Health Rankings, another online resource for national health statistics, evidence continues to show that elevated air pollution can lead serious health conditions, including decreased lung function, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other pulmonary diseases and dysfunctions.
It’s easy to assume that the areas with the highest population densities will have the highest levels of pollution. And while that is true at times, we also find that when it comes to particulate matter pollution, a number of factors are at play. This type of air pollution can occur due to factors like forest fires, factory emissions, car emissions and gases, etc. With that in mind, here at the Virginia counties and/or cities that showed the highest levels of air pollution.
- Scott County
Skye Marthaler [CC BY-SA 3.0] / Wikimedia Commons Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.7
- City of Falls Church
William F. Yurasko / flickr Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.6
- City of Alexandria
Author Unknown [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5] / Wikimedia Commons Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.5
- Fairfax County
William F. Yurasko / flickr Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.3
- City of Richmond
Bill Dickinson / flickr Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.2
- (TIE) City of Norfolk
Missy Schmidt / flickr Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.2
- City of Roanoke
Brent Moore / flickr Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.1
- (TIE) Roanoke County
Bob Wilcox / flickr Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.1
- (TIE) City of Chesapeake
Visit Chesapeake, VA / Facebook Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.1
- (TIE) Loudoun County
Luigi de Guzman / flickr Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.1
What did you think of these results? Did any of them surprise you? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Skye Marthaler [CC BY-SA 3.0] / Wikimedia Commons
Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.7
William F. Yurasko / flickr
Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.6
Author Unknown [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.5] / Wikimedia Commons
Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.5
Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.3
Bill Dickinson / flickr
Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.2
Missy Schmidt / flickr
Brent Moore / flickr
Annual average concentration of fine particulate matter per cubic meter: 10.1
Bob Wilcox / flickr
Visit Chesapeake, VA / Facebook
Luigi de Guzman / flickr
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