New Report Says Milwaukee’s Air Pollution Is Getting Worse

by Edwin Torres, age 13

Milwaukee was rated once again as one of the worst metropolitan areas in the nation for ozone-polluted air, according to the latest American Lung Association (ALA) report.

Ground-level ozone, also known as smog, happens when heat and sunlight mix with gases from smokestacks, cars, and other pollutants. Milwaukee was ranked as the 26th worst of 228 cities for ozone pollution, placed second amongst Wisconsin cities, only behind Sheboygan, which was ranked the 24th worst. The annual report compared metro areas throughout the country by using air quality data gathered between 2021 and 2023. It was discovered that 46% of Americans, equivalent to more than 156 million people, live in places with high levels of particle or ozone pollution. That’s almost 25 million more people compared to last year’s report.

Similar to prior years, people of color had a higher chance of being exposed to unhealthy air or were more likely to have illnesses, such as heart disease or asthma, that make them more vulnerable to polluted air. Although people of color comprise around 41% of the U.S. population, they make up more than 50% of individuals living in counties that the ALA ranked “failing” for the poor quality of the air.

The air quality in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha area is getting worse, exposing residents to ozone and particulate pollution. From 2021 to 2023, the report found that the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha area had an average of 9.5 days per year of unhealthy ozone levels. The previous report found an average of 6.7 days per year of unhealthy ozone levels.

Racine County ranked the worst in the metro area for its ground-level ozone pollution, which becomes a massive problem in the summer. On the other hand, particle pollution is also increasing. Particle pollution consists of tiny pieces of liquids and solids suspended in the air from sources such as power plants, factories, cars, and wildfires, which is an issue all year round. This year, the Milwaukee area ranked 50th worst out of 223 metro areas in the U.S. for short-term particle pollution, up from its previous ranking of 105th worst.

Out of all Wisconsin’s 72 counties, 26 reported data on ozone pollution. According to the ALA, Kenosha, Sheboygan, Racine, Ozaukee, and Milwaukee County are the five counties that had the greatest average number of high ozone days.

While air pollution is continuing to be a problem across many cities in the country, including those in Wisconsin, it is not an impossible challenge to tackle. People should strive to reduce air pollution by limiting emissions and shifting towards cleaner energy. Effective solutions will not only improve public health but will help create a healthier planet for future generations.

[Sources: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Racine Journal Times]