The state Department of Environmental Protection issued its first air quality alert of the year for Wednesday, as temperatures spiked into the high 80s in most areas and elevated ground-level ozone was anticipated.
Officials warned air quality was likely to be unhealthy for sensitive groups in eastern Hampden and Hampshire counties, as well as Worcester, Middlesex, Norfol, Suffolk and Essex counties, and they encouraged people to take precautions.
Ground-level ozone is the state’s primary seasonal pollutant, and its formation depends on temperature and sunlight to create “smog,” when emissions from cars, power plants, factories and other sources chemically react.
Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function, aggravate existing conditions and damage lung-lining cells.
Glenn Keith, director of air and climate programs at MassDEP, said the state had been seeing a historical downward trend in air quality alert days and ozone exceedances — until 2023.
While 2020 to 2022 saw between seven and 12 air quality alert days connected to ozone, 2023 had 30, largely attributed to the Canadian wildfires that brought smoke over New England.
Last year there were 10 ozone exceedance days, as well, meaning levels went over the federal eight-hour standard for at least one of the state’s air monitoring station locations.
“I hope we don’t get a repeat of last summer, but that’s to be seen,” Keith said, “but with climate change and wildfires, there could be a trend that way.”
While climate change is influencing rising temperatures in Massachusetts, Keith said, it also appears to be triggering conditions conducive to wildfires in other parts of North America. It’s difficult to pin any specific event on the global phenomena, but there’s a predicted trend.
“Last year, we had some pretty unhealthy days due to the wildfire smoke from Canada,” Keith said. “It wouldn’t be surprising to see an increase in smoke-related, unhealthy air days going into the future.”
If wildfire smoke hits Massachusetts on a particularly hot and sunny day, it’s almost a double whammy. The smoke brings particulate matter — microscopic pollutants that can be inhaled and enter the bloodstream — while weather conditions are favorable for ozone pollution.
Experts have predicted that as the century progresses, the state will see 90-degree days occurring earlier and more often.
Last June, because of the Canadian wildfires, smog smothered New York City, stunning the U.S. and breaking the city’s air pollution record.
In theory, Keith said, that could happen in Massachusetts if the wind patterns were right.
There are state-led efforts in play to thwart air pollution. Massachusetts is actively working to reduce emissions through electric vehicle adoption, heat pumps and reduction of fossil fuel combustion. Those policies, Keith said, will be a “counteracting force” to reduce the ingredients that go into ozone pollution.
Want more information about Massachusetts air quality alerts?
People can track real-time ozone and particulate matter levels at MassAir Online or call 800-882-1497 to learn about real-time air quality in any given community.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has an air quality alert program that notifies enrollees by email, cellphone or pager when poor air quality is predicted in your area.
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