Mecklenburg County Celebrates 10 Years of Clean Air

Mecklenburg County residents can breathe easy, knowing that North Carolina has met every federal health-based air quality standard for a full decade.  

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards are limits on air pollution levels set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations like children, older adults and people with asthma. Standards are set for the six criteria air pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution and sulfur dioxide.

North Carolina has maintained compliance with these standards since August 2015, underscoring years of hard work by Mecklenburg County Air Quality, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and stakeholders.  

“Having a local air quality agency in Mecklenburg County that is measuring air pollution, improving air quality and listening and responding to residents has been critical to this achievement,” said Mecklenburg County Air Quality Director Leslie Rhodes. “We are proud to have played a part in achieving a decade of clean air and are committed to working with the community to continue improving air quality.”

“Achieving ten years of meeting our clean air standards is a testament to what we can accomplish with sound policymaking and strong public and private partnerships,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolinians are able to breathe fresh air because of our state’s continued commitment to safeguarding our natural resources.”

North Carolina and many other states had significant nonattainment issues with several of the standards in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly for ozone and particle pollution. Air pollution also contributed to summer haze in the Blue Ridge Mountains and forest-damaging acid rain.

Key actions that improved air quality during those years included the passage of the 2002 Clean Smokestacks Act in North Carolina; significant advances in federal fuel and engine standards for cars and trucks; a shift in energy generation away from coal; and emission reductions from homes, industry and other human sources due to regulatory, voluntary and educational programs.

Mecklenburg County has also spearheaded several local efforts to improve air quality, including the Grants to Replace Aging Diesel Engines (GRADE) program, compliance assistance for industry, and outreach campaigns aimed at reducing single occupancy vehicles.  

“Cars, trucks, and off-road equipment continue to be the largest sources of air pollution here locally and support for initiatives that address these sources is more important than ever,” said Rhodes.  

While air quality has improved significantly in North Carolina, there can still be a handful of days when air pollution levels may impact public health. Residents can check the local air quality forecast at AirQuality.MeckNC.gov/Data to help them plan their outdoor activities.