Nearly half of Americans live in places with failing grades for air pollution, report says

About 46% of U.S. residents — 156 million people — lived in areas with unhealthy air quality that earned “F” grades from the American Lung Association for ozone or particle pollution. 

That’s according to the association’s 26th annual analysis of air quality data, which shows that the country is regressing on clean air measures. 

The analysis — which reviewed data from the years 2021 to 2023 — saw an increase of about 25 million people living with unhealthy air in comparison with last year’s survey.

The report shows how the effects of climate change — heat, drought and increased wildfire smoke — are driving changes in air quality across the country. 

“This year,...
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