Connecticut's Air Quality Crisis: A Health Emergency

Connecticut's air quality is hitting dangerous levels, with Fairfield County topping the charts as the most polluted spot east of Texas and 16th.

Worst in the nation, per the latest American Lung Association report, ozone smog has spiked in six out of eight counties here, earning the state its unwanted tailpipe nickname.

Much of this mess blows in from Midwest factories and New York City traffic, but local exhausts from Interstate 95 piles on two.

Emissions have dropped over decades thanks to clean air laws, yet the problem keeps growing.

Health hits are brutal, expect more kid asthma cases, emergency room rushes for lung issues, and higher risks of heart attacks, strokes, and early deaths.

Over half a million folks in Connecticut already battle lung diseases like asthma and COPD.

Climate change cranks up the heat, baking pollutants into more ozone on scorching sunny days, making cleanup tougher.

Potential rollbacks on federal protections could spike emissions further, with states like ours fighting back in court.

Check airnow.gov for daily air alerts, time workouts for cooler hours or indoors, and push local winds like ditching old polluting cars to breathe.

Easier long term, I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to Hartford News today, AI-powered local news.