Air pollution is one of the worst types of pollution, affecting around 99% of the world’s population. According to the WHO, it causes nearly seven million fatalities worldwide annually.
The situation in developed nations, including the USA, is less alarming due to various strict measures taken in previous decades. However, the latest report signifies that the situation is still not under control.
What’s in the Report?
A recent report by the American Lung Association says that 156 million Americans, nearly half (46%) of the American population, live in areas with unhealthy air due to smog or soot. It shows that 25 million more Americans are now living under air pollution exposure compared to last year.
The matter of concern is that the increase in the number of affected individuals is not merely due to an increase in population. The report highlights that air quality has worsened in more counties than ever before.
The CEO’s Statement
Harold Wimmer, the president and CEO of the American Lung Association, said in a statement, “Families across the US are dealing with the health impacts of air pollution every day, and extreme heat and wildfires are making it worse. Air pollution is causing kids to have asthma attacks, making people who work outdoors sick, and leading to low birth weight in babies.”
He further added, “Efforts to slash staff, funding, and programs at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are leaving families even more vulnerable to harmful air pollution.”
Climate Change – One of the Reasons
One of the factors contributing to the air population is unending climate change. Extreme heat, prolonged droughts, and wildfires are increasing particulate matter and ozone in the air. A recent example is the uptick in pollution in the eastern U.S. due to heat waves and wildfires in 2023. This pattern was previously present only in the western parts of the country.
Worst-Affected Cities
Cities in California have performed the worst in the country. Fresno and Bakersfield have the highest soot pollution, while ozone pollution is prevalent in the Los Angeles region of the state. Five of the seven most polluted American cities are in California. On the other hand, Casper in central Wyoming was declared the cleanest U.S. city in the report.
Most Affected Communities
Another aspect of this report is shedding light on the communities living in and around the polluted cities. According to details, people of color are twice as likely to live in areas with ozone and soot pollution compared to white Americans. This environmental injustice is the result of decades-long policies where polluting industries were placed in areas with minority ethnicities.
1970 Clean Air Act
Since the implementation of the Clean Air Act in 1970 by the federal government, the nationwide air quality has improved constantly, thanks to significant updates in later years. Mary Rice, a pulmonologist at Harvard University, affirmed this fact in her statement, “The Clean Air Act is one of the greatest success stories in our country.”
She further elaborated the positive impact of these changes by saying, “So the air quality standards have kept pace with the science over time, and levels of fine particulate matter have declined over the last 50-plus years. As a result, life expectancy is longer, and asthma rates have gone down.”
Biggest Concern
Recent probable changes may roll back the advantages of the Clean Air Act. Under the Trump administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to relax limits on soot pollution. The agency has the opinion that the strict rules, imposed in 2024, have restricted business activities.
In the initial stage, the EPA has removed emission reduction requirements from several coal-fired power plants. Experts fear that if this trend continues, it may increase environmental health risks, resulting in more diseases and deaths.
