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Nearly Half of U.S. Residents Now Live in Areas with Failing Air Quality

A new report reveals worsening pollution driven by climate change and wildfire smoke, as EPA considers rolling back key environmental protections.

Los Angeles skyline shimmers in the smog in 2022.
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Particle pollution threatens human health because it is so tiny – a fraction of the width of a human hair – and can travel past the body’s usual defenses.
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Overview

  • The American Lung Association's latest report shows 46% of Americans, or 156 million people, live in areas with failing grades for ozone or particle pollution.
  • This marks an increase of 25 million people exposed to unhealthy air compared to the previous year's data, covering 2021–2023.
  • Climate change effects, including record heat waves and intense wildfire smoke, are major contributors to the decline in air quality.
  • The EPA has announced plans to reconsider Clean Air Act programs, potentially weakening emissions standards for vehicles and power plants.
  • Communities of color face disproportionate exposure, with people of color more than twice as likely as White people to live in areas with failing air quality grades.