Dutchess, Putnam graded for smog levels
The American Lung Association last month released its annual State of the Air report, looking at fine particulate matter and ozone (smog) over a three-year period.
Based on the number of days when there was enough ozone to trigger warnings, Putnam received a C grade for ozone and Dutchess received a B. (By comparison, New York City received an F.) Putnam had two days and Dutchess had four that triggered the lowest-level smog alert (“orange”) for people who are especially sensitive, such as those with asthma.
Only 25 of New York’s 62 counties could be graded for at least one measure of air quality, according to the report. Putnam and Dutchess are among those that do not collect data on fine-particle pollution, which comes from sources such as wildfires, wood-burning stoves, coal-fired power plants and diesel engines.
