Air Quality

Our air quality is negatively impacted ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

SHORT SUMMARY OF THE 2023 TACOMA AND SEATTLE AIR TOXICS STUDY

The study confirmed that diesel exhaust (from trucks, ships, trains, etc.) contributes most of the health risk from air toxics. Hexavalent chromium (in industrial areas) and wood smoke were the next highest, each contributing about 5% of the total risk.
We also found Black, Indigenous, and other people of color and lower income households in our region have higher potential cancer risks from air toxics due to living near major roadways.
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Puget Sound Clean Air Agency: Short Summary of the 2023 Tacoma and Seattle Air Toxics Study
https://pscleanair.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5442/2023-Air-Toxics-Community-Report