Air Pollution Still Affects Nearly Half of Americans — And It's Taking a Toll on Health

Despite decades of progress under the Clean Air Act, nearly half of Americans—156 million people—still live with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association's 2024 State of the Air report. While cleaner air has prevented millions of asthma attacks and extended life expectancy, rising threats like climate change-driven wildfires are eroding these gains.

Pollution harms lungs, hearts, and brains, disproportionately impacting people of color. Health experts warn that efforts to weaken air quality regulations could reverse hard-won improvements. Protecting and strengthening air quality standards remains critical to safeguarding public health and ensuring longer, healthier lives for all Americans. Read more from NPR here.