In a recent report from the American Lung Association, Eugene-Springfield made the list of top five most polluted cities in the U.S. regarding air pollution. Eugene-Springfield is listed as the fourth most polluted city for both short-term and year-round particle pollution.  The report finds that 131 million people (39% of the national population) live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution.  

Short-term climate pollutants are greenhouse gasses that have a short atmospheric lifetime compared to carbon dioxide. Both short-term and year-long particle pollution is a significant problem in Eugene and all of Lane County. 

Travis Knudsen has been the acting director of Lane Regional Air Protection Agency for the past four years. He said that the report from the American Lung Association is based on the number of bad air quality days out of the year in the county. 

Knudsen said there are different factors that cause poor air quality throughout the year. 

“[The] end of July is the worst air quality in Lane County because of the wildfire smoke in the Pacific Northwest,” Knudsen said. 

Knudsen explains that air quality is also very poor at the end of November and into December. 

“Our air is most stagnant then, [we] have the same air mass for many days on end, and over time that stagnant air from stuff like industry and transportation collectively over time results in bad air quality,” Knudsen said. 

In the colder months, the causes of stagnant air can be attributed to the increase in wood stoves usage.

Poor air quality can make it easier for anyone to get sick. Knudsen said a high-efficiency particulate air filter can push out bad quality air from indoors. 

Lisa Arkin has been the executive director of Beyond Toxics since 2006. Beyond Toxics was Oregon’s first environmental justice organization and was established 17 years ago. 

According to Arkin, a major cause of poor and stagnant air in the county comes from people simply sitting in their cars. 

“The emissions that come when sitting in a car and it’s not running, it could be extremely harmful to the environment,” Arkin said. “Leaving a car idling for more than 20 or 30 seconds causes more pollution than turning a car on and off.” 

Arkin said the usage of gas stoves also releases harmful chemicals into the air. “We are exposing ourselves to carcinogens, like benzene, which is in cigarettes,” Arkin said.
According to Arkin, Beyond Toxics is currently working to recommend the switch to electric appliances.