Neighbors uniting for a healthier St. Louis region
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Breathe Better STL
“If you live in the St. Louis Metropolitan region, the air you breathe may put your health at risk.”
“If you live in the St. Louis Metropolitan region, the air you breathe may put your health at risk.”
Next Meeting:
3rd Wednesday, 7 p.m.,
May 21, 2025
ON ZOOM!
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Toxic Smell Season is Coming!
Toxic Smell Season is Coming!
Share this video now to Friends & Family
Share this video now to Friends & Family
As winter thaws and the air warms up, we will all be getting outdoors more - and you know what that means! Be sure to report any bad air encounters you have and share the video so others can be inspired to do the same.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BbyFhRFSd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFs1KynP4n4/?igsh=MWQybDl0bm0yZWE2MQ==
Eyes watering? Breathing constricting?
Smell something odd in the air? Report it here
St. Louis Air Quality Grade: F
St. Louis Air Quality Grade: F
The American Lung Association 2025 State of the Air Report shows a persistent failure to achieve healthy air over the past nearly three decades. Disturbingly, it shows air quality for ozone getting worse since 2021 and trending worse. Ozone pollution poses significant health risks for people with respiratory conditions, the young, the elderly and people spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer when ozone pollution peaks.
Overall, the St. Louis region:
Ranked 21 worst for high ozone days out of 228 metropolitan areas
Ranked 88 worst for 24-hour particle pollution out of 225 metropolitan areas
Ranked 17 worst for annual particle pollution out of 208 metropolitan areas
March 15, 2025 St. Louis Air Quality Takes a Dangerous Turn
March 15, 2025 St. Louis Air Quality Takes a Dangerous Turn
After Friday March 14 thunderstorms and tornadoes, St. Louisans woke up March 15 to a thick haze of particulate-matter filled air which ran our air quality index (AQI) off the charts- as high at 800 on the scale in some places. Good air on the AQI is 0-35. St. Louis was at 735 on the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resource's scale. Individual air monitors were even higher at some locations nearer the riverfront.
Visibility was so low that the Arch could not be seen from its usual places.
Follow this link to keep up: https://dnr.mo.gov/air/hows-air/current-air-quality
Good job!
Good job!
About 70 people on zoom and in the room attended the EPA meeting Saturday 9/28 on the Veolia hazardous waste incinerator permitting. Great questions from everyone!
Thank you for attending!
Thank you for attending!
EPA Public Meeting
EPA Public Meeting
Saturday, Sept. 28
Saturday, Sept. 28
1-3 p.m.
Jackie Joyner Kersee Community Center
Whether by zoom or in person, we are grateful for your presence! We exceeded our goal with over 70 participants!
Thank you to the JJK Center for their gracious hosting! Thank you to the EPA for coming all the way from Chicago. And Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke up and helped fill the room and the zoom.
Our Next Regular Meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 at 7 p.m. Sign up on our mailing list below for details.
NEWS: St. Louis Magazine
According to the American Lung Association:
St. Louis consistently receives an “F” for ozone levels
Although ozone levels have decreased for the city and county of St. Louis, the 2020 report says ozone is still too high
In addition, there are particulates and heavy metals such as lead and mercury found in our air
What is Breathe Better STL?
What is Breathe Better STL?
We're a group of neighbors that have come together through word of mouth to investigate and resolve the problem of respiratory toxins we experience as "The Smell" and to make sure EPA stops the toxic air in 2024 so no more people have to suffer.
We recognize that air quality laws are in place to protect us and we intend to see that they do. The toxic air has been eliminated before, and we can do it again! Especially with all your help.
The distinctive metallic, chemical smell is sometimes so strong it burns the nose, throat and eyes, and can cause coughing and flare ups of medical conditions such as asthma.
We have united to ensure clean air for our community, on both sides of the river.
We are currently focused on the air pollution permit of Veolia Environmental Service, a hazardous waste incinerator in Sauget because their permit is open for updates and renewal.
Why Do We Exist?
Why Do We Exist?
EPA rule changes under the Trump administration redefined:
The acceptable levels of toxins in the air
The list of toxins being monitored
The monitoring process
The EPA issued a Clean Air Act violation to Veolia on September 23, 2021. Specifically, Veolia violated the carbon monoxide emission standard, which is an indication that equipment was not properly destroying the hazardous waste that was fed to it.
The EPA also found that Veolia failed to operate its equipment within acceptable ranges needed for proper pollution control, allowed storage tanks to leak vapors, and emitted more nitrogen oxide than is allowed.
Our Goals
Our Goals
To make you aware of local air quality problems
To make you aware of local air quality problems
To improve the health of Missouri and Metro East citizens
To improve the health of Missouri and Metro East citizens
To have >400 people attend a permit hearing with the EPA
To have >400 people attend a permit hearing with the EPA
Formerly the Metro Toxic Air Task Force
Formerly the Metro Toxic Air Task Force
EPA Hearing
EPA Hearing
Veolia submitted an application for new Title V Clean Air Act permit in November 4, 2023. Their current permit expired in July 2024.
Go to www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/Veolia-sauget-air-permitting to view the current permit as well as the draft permit for 2024 when it is released.
Sign up to be informed about our ongoing progress, and to be notified when the EPA schedules their hearing to review the permit.
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