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Whatcom County air quality receives mixed ratings from American Lung Association

Whatcom County air quality receives mixed ratings from American Lung Association

Photo: Saga Communications/Sam Kristofferson


WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County’s air quality has received mixed ratings over the past few years amid summer smoke from wildfires.

That’s according to the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report using data from 2021 through 2023.

The report gave the county an “A” grade for ground-level ozone pollution, ranking it among the cleanest in the country. But, similar to many other counties throughout the state, Whatcom received a “D” grade for particle pollution.

The Northwest Clean Air Agency attributes that grade to high levels of wildfire smoke in the three summers covered by the report.

The agency still says people who live and work in the county are generally exposed to good air quality.

For up-to-date information on air quality in Whatcom County, head to our weather page or click here.

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