Air pollution

Fifteen years after the EPA said greenhouse gasses are dangerous to public health, the agency finalized rules to limit climate-warming pollution from existing coal and new gas power plants.

The annual “State of the Air” report from the American Lung Association shows some progress for the region and the nation in smog reduction but reports that particulate pollution levels are deadly.

The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking input from the public as it considers the company’s application for a Clean Air Act permit renewal.

Washington University scientists say smoke particles from wildfires may damage health and contribute to climate change more than experts had realized.

A haze is still lingering over sections of the region as a result of wildfires that continue to burn in parts of Canada, but a sign showing poorer than usual air quality in St. Louis caught our newsroom's attention a bit before we began covering the impact of the fires locally.

As wildfires burn in eastern Canada, smoke and pollutants drift over the heavily impacted Northeast and into the Midwest. Poor air quality levels in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, may be hurting people with more sensitive breathing conditions.

Even when skies are clear, air pollution can affect the health of sensitive groups.

Congressional representatives from St. Louis and Kansas City and environmental groups argue the state’s plan doesn’t make meaningful attempts to reduce the pollution that causes haze.

A St. Louis environmental group wants to help urban farmers in north St. Louis and north St. Louis County monitor air quality. Climate Changents are placing air monitoring machines that test fine particulate matter on urban farms and schools.

The North Omaha Station, a coal burning power plant, was supposed to stop burning coal next year. But its owner wants an extension to keep burning coal for three more years.