Implementing the recent stronger standard for fine particulate pollution revealed that 131 million Americans breathe unhealthy, polluted air where they live, according to a press release from the American Lung Association.

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This message from the American Lung Association comes with its yearly State of the Air report that presents data on air pollution levels across the U.S., with this year’s containing information from 2020 to 2022.

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Compared with last year’s report, Pruitt said the number of people living with unhealthy air went up by 11 million.

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https://www.healio.com/news/pulmonology/20240424/2024-state-of-the-air-report-39-of-americans-breathe-polluted-unhealthy-air-daily

https://www.lung.org/getmedia/dabac59e-963b-4e9b-bf0f-73615b07bfd8/State-of-the-Air-2024.pdf

2024 ‘State of the Air’ Report Reveals Most ‘Hazardous’ Air Quality Days in 25 Years

The American Lung Association’s new “State of the Air” report reveals that spikes in deadly particle pollution are the most severe they’ve been in the history of the report. According to the new report, people in the U.S. experienced the most days with “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality due to particle pollution in 25 years. In total, the report finds that 131 million people (39%) are living in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution.

The Lung Association’s 25th annual “State of the Air” report grades exposure to unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone air pollution (also known as smog) and short-term spikes and annual average of particle pollution (also known as soot) over a three-year period. This year’s report includes the most recent quality-assured air quality data from 2020-2022 and is updated to reflect the new annual particle pollution standard that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized in February 2024.

https://www.lung.org/media/press-releases/sota-2024