Although New Jersey's air quality has improved significantly, it is still considered among the worst in the country for ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is the main component of smog, a chronic air quality problem with serious health effects in our state. We pay for poor air quality in many ways. We pay to treat the illnesses it causes. Absenteeism caused by air pollution impacts school children and workers.
Neighborhoods lose as property values fall in places where the air is bad.
Workers and businesses lose when limits are imposed on new development because federal air quality standards are not met. Businesses lose also if shoppers and tourists are warned to stay indoors because of poor air quality. Air pollution can also have other economic effects such as crop damage or degradation of art, statues, buildings, and other materials. Environmental Poor air quality is a generally recognized public health threat. These can include an increased incidence of asthma attacks, heart disease, and cancer risk.