More than forty percent of American residents reside in regions with poor air quality ratings, and the issue appears to be escalating.
Foul Air: Respiratory Health Crisis Hits America's Lungs
Americans are collectively gasping for cleaner air, as the dreadful state of air pollution continues to worsen across the nation, according to the latest report from the American Lung Association.
Alarmingly, close to half of the US population is breathing in polluted, unhealthy levels of air, the Association's annual State of the Air report reveals. The pollutants in question - ozone and particulate matter - pose significant threats to human health.
The association evaluated air quality data from 2021 to 2023, and approximately 156 million people - a whopping 25 million more than last year - inhabit areas receiving failing grades for ozone and particulates.
Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution or soot, is a noxious concoction of solid and liquid droplets, consisting mostly of dirt, dust, and smoke. It can originate from various sources such as coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, cars, agriculture, unpaved roads, construction sites, and wildfires.
Exposure to particulate matter can cause damage to the lungs and bloodstream, resulting in inflammation, irritation, and even triggering heart attacks. Chronic exposure has been linked to critical conditions like cancer, stroke, asthma, preterm births, dementia, depression, and anxiety.
Worryingly, 85 million people in the US are exposed to high levels of particulate pollution year-round, according to the report. The ten most affected areas by year-round pollution are:
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA
- Visalia, CA
- Fresno-Hanford-Cocoran, CA
- Eugene-Springfield, OR
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
- Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI (tied for 6th with San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA)
- Houston-Pasadena, TX
- Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH
- Fairbanks-College, AK
Short-term exposure to particulate matter can also lead to breathing problems and heart attacks. During the research period, 77.2 million people lived in counties with unhealthy spikes in particulate matter pollution. The ten areas most affected by short-term pollution are:
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA
- Fairbanks-College, AK
- Eugene-Springfield, OR (tied for 3rd with Visalia, CA)
- Visalia, CA (tied for 3rd)
- Fresno-Hanford-Corcoran, CA
- Reno-Carson City-Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
- Yakima, WA
- Seattle-Tacoma, WA
- Sacramento-Roseville, CA
Ozone pollution, also called smog, is generated when chemicals like nitrogen oxides and volatile organics react to sunlight, emanating from electric utilities, car exhaust, gasoline vapors, industrial facilities, and chemical solvents. Exposure to ozone pollution can cause asthma attacks and chest pain in the short term, and long-term exposure can lead to decreased lung function and premature death.
The ten areas with the highest levels of ozone pollution are:
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
- Visalia, CA
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA
- Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
- Fresno-Hanford-Corcoran, CA
- Denver-Aurora-Greeley, CO
- Houston-Pasadena, TX
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT
- Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Sadly, communities of color are disproportionately impacted by air pollution, with people of color living in neighborhoods with unhealthy air levels and being more than twice as likely as white people to reside in a community with failing grades for particulate matter or ozone pollution.
It's clear that the future of our nation's health hangs on the balance, with the Trump administration's proposed deregulation plans making it harder for people to breathe clean air. The administration's deregulation efforts, which include weakening the Clean Power Plan and loosening vehicle emissions standards, risk reversing decades of air quality improvements. Such actions could lead to heightened pollution levels, exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
Vulnerable segments of society, particularly children, pregnant individuals, and communities of color, will bear the brunt of these changes. The administration's approach also hinders climate mitigation efforts, potentially fanning the flames of wildfires and further worsening air quality issues. If successful, these deregulation efforts could have dire consequences for the health and wellbeing of millions across the nation.
- As the pollution worsens, more adults find themselves dealing with medical-conditions related to respiratory health, such as asthma and triggering heart attacks, due to unhealthy levels of particulate matter and ozone.
- The deteriorating air quality, a consequence of climate-change, can also be linked to other critical medical-conditions like cancer, stroke, and even dementia and anxiety, as it poses long-term threats to human health.
- Sadly, not enough progress has been made in improving the health and wellness of Americans, especially communities of color, who disproportionately suffer from the impacts of air pollution.
- Pruitt's environmental-science policies, such as weakening the Clean Power Plan and loosening vehicle emissions standards, put vulnerable adults and children at risk, as they exacerbate air pollution levels, worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, and hinder climate-change mitigation efforts.
- The health of future generations, as well as the integrity of our planet's environment, is at stake, with science indicating a strong correlation between air pollution and long-term health complications.
- By addressing climate-change and maintaining strong air pollution regulations, we can work towards reducing pollution, ensuring a healthier population, and promoting a cleaner, safer environment for all.
