ground-level ozone
Coverage of ground-level ozone in the Nexus archive.
- D.C. Air Quality Was Among the Worst In the World Twice This Month. What Can the District Do to Improve It?
D.C. experienced two instances of the worst air quality in the world this month, including a 6.7-fold spike in PM2.5 levels after Fourth of July fireworks and a code purple alert due to Canadian wildfire smoke. A heat dome and high temperatures also contributed to elevated ozone levels, a recurring issue in the District.
- EXTREME HEATWAVE: Near triple-digit temperatures expected to blanket NYC this week. Here’s what you need to know.
An extreme heatwave is expected to hit NYC this week, with temperatures reaching the upper 90s and real-feel temperatures exceeding 100 due to humidity. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch through Friday, and elevated ozone levels have prompted an air quality health advisory. Health officials warn of dangerous conditions, especially for vulnerable groups, and advise limiting outdoor activity.
- Wildfire smoke has reversed US progress toward ozone air quality, study finds
A study published in Science found that wildfires since 2015 have reversed U.S. progress toward ozone air quality standards, with wildfire smoke worsening pollution and undoing years of emission reduction efforts. Ground-level ozone is created when pollutants from cars, refineries, and industrial sources react with sunlight.
- Wildfires are making the US smoggy again, reversing progress on cleaner air, study finds
Wildfires since 2015 have reversed a decade-long decline in U.S. smog levels, increasing ground-level ozone by 4% and contributing to an estimated 318 annual deaths. A University of Iowa study used AI to analyze limited EPA smog monitor data, revealing the trend reversal despite prior human-caused emissions reductions.
- Wildfires are making the US smoggy again, reversing progress on cleaner air, study finds
A study finds that wildfires have reversed U.S. progress on reducing smog since 2015, with national ground-level ozone increasing by 4% as fires grow larger. Researchers attribute this trend partly to climate change and limited air pollution monitoring, projecting smog levels could return to 2003 levels in 20 years if wildfire smoke continues to rise.
- Virginia congressional map vote could embolden Florida Republicans to push for boundary changes, says Jeffries – US politics live
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries warns Ron DeSantis that Virginia's congressional map vote could embolden Florida Republicans to push boundary changes. A new American Lung Association report reveals nearly half of U.S. children face dangerous air pollution levels, citing Trump's environmental rollbacks as exacerbating the issue.
- Nearly half of US children are breathing dangerous levels of air pollution, report warns
A report by the American Lung Association reveals nearly half of U.S. children are exposed to dangerous air pollution levels, citing data from 2022–2024. Experts warn that the Trump EPA’s environmental protection rollbacks exacerbate the issue, with the report analyzing ozone and particle pollution trends.