For the first time since air quality record-keeping began in 1980, no Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Air Quality Index days for ozone were observed during the ozone forecast season. The air quality was studied from November 2020 to October 2021.
Overall, most days in central Ohio were in the Good Air Quality Index (GAQI) category. For ozone, 85% of summer days were in the GAQI category. For Fine Particle pollution, 87% of all days were in the Good Air category.
Officials say having zero days with air pollution above the 100 Air Quality Index level indicates the improving air quality in our region.
MORPC says that over the past 29 years, the number of days with high ozone has generally declined in the Columbus area, mostly it finds due to lower emissions from vehicles.
