Overview

• The American Lung Association’s 2025 report finds 156 million Americans breathing unhealthy air, a 25 million increase from the previous year’s report.
• Climate change–fueled wildfires and extreme heat are major contributors to worsening smog and particulate pollution across the U.S.
• Bakersfield, California, remains the worst city for year-round and short-term particle pollution for the sixth consecutive year.
• The EPA’s recent proposal to roll back 31 environmental regulations, including vehicle emissions standards, raises concerns about further air quality declines.
• Health impacts of rising pollution include increased asthma attacks, illnesses among outdoor workers, and low birth weight in babies, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.