{"id":3966,"date":"2024-05-07T13:32:16","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T13:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/?p=3966"},"modified":"2025-12-04T15:18:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T15:18:16","slug":"state-of-the-air-report-shows-america-must-work-harder-to-fight-pollution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/global-clean-air\/2024\/05\/07\/state-of-the-air-report-shows-america-must-work-harder-to-fight-pollution\/","title":{"rendered":"State of the Air Report shows America must work harder to fight pollution"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s new:<\/span><\/b> The American Lung Association released its annual <\/span>State of the Air report<\/span><\/a> last month, showing that climate change is making it more difficult to clean up our polluted air. About one-third of all Americans were breathing unhealthy air in 2023\u2014a greater number than in year\u2019s past, despite gains made through ever improving vehicle, industrial, and oil and gas<\/span><\/p>\n

emissions standards. And while these air pollution trends are another indication that a warming planet is having a negative impact on our daily lives, we still have tools within reach that can help improve air quality for millions both in the United States and around the world.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why it matters:<\/span><\/b> As the planet warms, and wildfires become more common, high levels of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter, or soot) are reaching into corners of the country previously considered safe from such smoke. The impacts can seem like a nuisance for healthy individuals, but for those with health problems, a series of days dominated by wildfire smoke can be dangerous or even deadly.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, growing numbers of hot, sunny days combined with increasing instances of high-pressure areas create the perfect conditions for ozone. In the United States, the Clean Air Act has helped reduce the amount of ozone precursors in the air and is driving down the number of people exposed to the highest number of ozone days. That has helped reduce the number of people living in counties with a failing ozone grades. However, despite that improvement, these hot, stagnant days are having a substantial impact on counties. In fact, twice as many U.S. counties are seeing air quality decline than are seeing improvement due to unhealthy levels of ozone. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Most
Graphic from 2024 State of the Air Report<\/em>, Courtesy of The American Lung Association.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What we can do about it: <\/span><\/b>EPA <\/span>recently strengthened<\/span><\/a> the annual fine particle (PM2.5) standard to 9 micrograms per cubic meter and announced plans to improve monitoring. And while U.S. standards are moving in the right direction, they still do not meet those established by the World Health Organization, set at 5 micrograms per cubic meter averaged annually. Many cities met the old standard but do not meet this new strengthened federal standard. These cities represent areas where residents have been breathing unhealthy air due to human activity\u2014not wildfires.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of both government and scientific ways we can combat air pollution:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n