Seattle's air quality is among the worst in the nation



Keep clicking to see the most polluted cities by short-term particle pollution... followed by one Washington city that's among the cleanest in the nation. less Washington's air quality is getting worse, according to the recently released 2019 State of the Air report by the American Lung Association. Three Washington cities made the list of most polluted by short-term particle pollution. Washington's air quality is getting worse, according to the recently released 2019 State of the Air report by the American Lung Association. Three Washington cities made the list of most polluted by short-term ... more Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Photo: GENNA MARTIN, SEATTLEPI.COM Image 1 of / 90 Caption Close Seattle's air quality is among the worst in the nation 1 / 90 Back to Gallery

Air quality in Washington has gotten worse.

The Seattle-Tacoma metro area ranked among the 10 most polluted cities by the American Lung Association in its annual "State of the Air" report released earlier this month -- and it wasn't the only Washington city to make the list, nor the worst.

The main reason: wildfires.

"People in the Puget Sound area should know that we're breathing unhealthy air, driven by wildfires as a result of climate change, placing our health and even lives at risk," Allison Hickey, national executive vice president for the American Lung Association Western Region, said in a news release.

RELATED: Wildfire concerns mount with hot, dry weather outlook in Washington

The region has moved from the 15th most polluted metro area for short-term particle pollution, such as what hangs in the air after a wildfire, to the ninth.

"Particle pollution is made of soot or tiny particles that come from coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions, wildfires and wood-burning devices. These particles are so small that they can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, and can even be lethal," Hickey said. "Right now, more than four in 10 Americans are living with unhealthy air, and we're heading in the wrong direction when it comes to protecting public health and people's lives."

Though the region has also been impacted by increased ozone pollution, caused by emissions from things like cars and power plants. In 2019, Seattle-Tacoma jumped from 72nd to 35th worst, and the air quality grade for King County dropped from a C to an F.

Meanwhile, a few hours north, Bellingham ranked as one of the cleanest air cities in both categories, with a No. 1 ranking for ozone pollution and among the top 10 for particle pollution.

To see which cities are the most polluted for short-term particle pollution, and which Washington city ranked even worse than Seattle-Tacoma, click through the slideshow above.