US air quality has improved over the past few decades, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Between 1990 and 2020, national concentrations of air pollutants in the United States improved significantly:
- 73% improvement in carbon monoxide
- 86% improvement in lead (from 2010)
- 61% improvement in annual nitrogen dioxide
- 25% improvement in ozone
- 26% improvement in 24-hour coarse particle concentrations
- 41% improvement in annual fine particles (from 2000)
- 91% improvement in sulfur dioxide
The EPA data shows that air quality has generally improved in the United States since 1980, although trends vary based on location. The Air Quality Index (AQI), which captures concentrations of five out of the six criteria pollutants (excluding lead), has shown a decrease from an average of 59.6 in 1980 to 36.4 in 2020.
The Ohio Propane Gas Association (OPGA) is thrilled to share these facts from the EPA. The OPGA believes in the future of solar and wind energy. We also believe Ohio needs fuel diversity, including natural gas and propane. We need additional energy sources to keep the power on when the wind isn’t blowing, and the sun isn’t shining.
