Tens of millions more people in US are exposed to toxic air, according to the American Lung Association’s latest report. The 26th annual "State of the air" study shows that over 25 million more Americans are breathing polluted air that can trigger asthma, impair cognitive abilities, and lead to premature death. The report highlights how climate events like wildfires, heatwaves, and droughts are worsening pollution levels across the country.
The findings reveal that nearly half of the US population lives in areas with unhealthy air quality. Almost 43 million Americans live in regions that failed both particle and ozone pollution measures. The West Coast, long affected by industrial pollution and wildfires, continues to be the hardest hit, with cities like Bakersfield, Fresno, and Visalia among the top ten most polluted in the nation. These cities suffer from high levels of particle pollution due to agricultural practices, wildfires, and the presence of oil and gas industries.
The report also notes that the 2023 wildfire season in Canada significantly impacted air quality across the US, especially in the upper midwest and northeast, where the smoke blanketed cities like New York, turning the sky orange.
Top 10 worst-affected metro cities
The findings reveal that nearly half of the US population lives in areas with unhealthy air quality. Almost 43 million Americans live in regions that failed both particle and ozone pollution measures. The West Coast, long affected by industrial pollution and wildfires, continues to be the hardest hit, with cities like Bakersfield, Fresno, and Visalia among the top ten most polluted in the nation. These cities suffer from high levels of particle pollution due to agricultural practices, wildfires, and the presence of oil and gas industries.
The report also notes that the 2023 wildfire season in Canada significantly impacted air quality across the US, especially in the upper midwest and northeast, where the smoke blanketed cities like New York, turning the sky orange.
Top 10 worst-affected metro cities
- Bakersfield, CA
- Fairbanks, AK
- Eugene-Springfield, OR
- Visalia, CA
- Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA
- Reno-Carson City-Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
- Yakima, WA
- Seattle-Tacoma, WA
- Sacramento-Roseville, CA
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