Description of the video:
This week we spoke with the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Martin Suuberg. We discussed this year’s record-breaking number of healthy ozone days and how air pollution is increasing COVID-19 infection and mortality rates, specifically, among people of color.
Long-term exposure to air pollution correlated with higher COVID-19 mortality rates, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. While studies by the Boston University School of Public Health found that communities of color tend to have the highest rates of air pollution. Learn all about the Department’s work to monitor, limit, and reduce air pollution across the state in this episode.
Resources mentioned in the video:
- Stay updated and check out the Department’s online resources at: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-environmental-protection
- Read more on this year’s ozone monitoring season here: https://www.mass.gov/news/ozone-monitoring-season-ends-with-lowest-number-of-unhealthy-air-days-since-monitoring-began
- Learn more on MASSDEP’s general focuses and operations below: https://www.mass.gov/topics/environmental-protection
