Lung Association Report: Lancaster, PA Metro Area Air Pollution Measures Worsen, Area Rejoins National Worst 25 in the U.S. List for Daily Particle Pollution, Ranking 2nd Worst in Mid-Atlantic

Today, the American Lung Association released the 2025 “State of the Air” report, which reveals that Lancaster, PA metro area has rejoined the worst 25 cities in U.S list at 22nd most polluted in the nation and 2nd worst in the Mid-Atlantic (defined for this report as DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV) for daily particle pollution. The area worsened from 57th to 45th worst in nation for year-round pollution and dropped from a B grade for ozone in last year’s report to a C grade. Nationally, the report found that 156 million people (46%) are living in areas that had unhealthy levels of air pollution.

The Lung Association’s 26th annual “State of the Air” report grades exposure to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone air pollution (also known as smog), and year-round and short-term spikes in particle pollution (also known as soot) over a three-year period. The report looks at the latest quality-assured air quality data from 2021-2023.

"The air pollutants highlighted in this report are widespread and pose a risk to everyone’s health. Both ozone and particle pollution can lead to premature death and cause serious health issues such as asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, and even problems with cognitive function later in life. Particle pollution can also increase the risk of lung cancer,” said Elizabeth Hensil, Director of Advocacy in Pennsylvania, American Lung Association.

“Sadly, too many people in the metro area are living with dangerous levels of ozone and particle pollution. This pollution is making kids have asthma attacks, causing people who work outdoors to get sick and unable to work, and even contributing to low birth weight in babies. We’re urging Pennsylvania policymakers to take action to improve our air quality. We’re also calling on everyone to support the vital work of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

Ground-level Ozone Pollution in the Lancaster, PA metro area:

The “State of the Air” report looked at levels of ozone “smog,” the air pollutant affecting the largest number of people in the United States. The metro area ranked 130th worst in the nation for ozone pollution. The ranking was based on the area’s worst (and only) county’s average number of unhealthy days—1 day per year, a C grade, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Though levels worsened, the area's ranking was better than in last year's report of 116th worst, with 0.3 days per year, a B grade. 

Particle Pollution in the Lancaster, PA metro area:

The report also tracked short-term spikes in particle pollution, which can be extremely dangerous and even deadly. The Lancaster, PA metro area ranked 22nd worst in the nation for short-term particle pollution. The ranking was based on the area’s worst (and only) county’s average number of unhealthy days—8.5 days per year, an F grade, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This was worse than the area's ranking in last year's report of 30th worst, with 4.3 days per year, also an F grade. 

For the year-round average level of particle pollution, Lancaster County continued to receive a failing grade for pollution levels above the federal standard. The Lancaster, PA metro area ranked 45th worst in the nation. This was worse than the area's ranking in last year's report of 57th worst in the nation.

In addition to the Lancaster, PA metro area, other notable findings across the state include:

• Harrisburg-York-Lebanon metro area worsens for both ozone smog and daily particle pollution, dropping from B to D for ozone smog and from C to F for daily particle pollution. The metro area ranks third worst in the Mid-Atlantic (32nd worst in nation) with a failing grade for year-round particle pollution.
• Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD ranked 3rd worst in Mid-Atlantic for both ozone smog and daily particle pollution. It also ranked 26th worst in the country for year-round particle levels, 2nd worst in the Mid-Atlantic.
• Pittsburgh-Weirton-Steubenville, PA-OH-WV. Both measures of particle pollution worsen in the area, ranking worst in Mid-Atlantic for both, 16th worst in country for daily particle pollution, 12th worst for the year-round average of particle pollution. Ozone smog again earns a D. 

The “State of the Air” report found that 156 million people in the U.S. (46%) live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution and 42.5 million people live in areas with failing grades for all three measures. The report also found that a person of color in the U.S. is more than twice as likely as a white individual to live in a community with a failing grade on all three pollution measures. Notably, Hispanic individuals are nearly three times as likely as white individuals to live in a community with three failing grades.

In this year’s “State of the Air” report, the Lung Association is calling on everyone to support the EPA. EPA is essential to protecting people’s health from ozone and particle pollution. Without EPA staff and programs, families won’t know what’s in the air they are breathing, and efforts to clean up air pollution will be undone. Join the American Lung Association in advocating to protect EPA’s expert staff and lifesaving programs. See the full report results and take action at Lung.org/sota.