In brief
A report reveals that 156 million Americans, nearly 46% of the population, live with unhealthy air quality, exacerbated by potential regulatory relaxations from the Trump administration.
At least 156 million Americans, comprising roughly 46% of the population, face unsafe levels of air pollution, including ozone and particulate matter, according to the latest analysis by the American Lung Association. The assessment highlights that regulatory rollbacks proposed by the Trump administration could aggravate this alarming situation.According to Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a spokesperson for the American Lung Association, the Clean Air Act has been instrumental in reducing health risks associated with poor air quality. “Legislation is imperative as it shapes the air quality that impacts people's lives,” he stated.The findings, presented in the annual State of the Air report, cover data from 2021 to 2023, which included an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada that significantly impacted air quality across North America. The report graded air quality in various counties and cities, with over 156 million Americans residing in areas that received the lowest rating of F for at least one type of pollutant.While the air quality in the United States has generally improved since the Clean Air Act's inception in 1970, with key pollutants decreasing by almost 80%, a large segment of the population continues to inhale polluted air daily. This exposure has been linked to both serious health problems and a higher risk of death.Of the 885 counties that provided air quality monitoring data, 480 counties failed to meet acceptable standards for at least one pollutant, while over 42 million people lived in areas that did not meet any of the three pollutant standards measured. The report underscores the critical need for ongoing vigilance and legislative action to safeguard public health amidst declining regulatory protections.
