The Most Polluted Cities In America [Infographic]

The Most Polluted Cities In America [Infographic]

Share to Linkedin The American Lung Association has released its 22nd annual State of the Air Report which found that 135 million people across the United States live with polluted air that is putting their health and lives at risk. That burden is not being shared equally and the research states that people of color are more than three times as likely to live in a county with polluted air than white people. Improvements in air quality have been seen in some parts of the country and 14. 8 million fewer Americans are breathing unhealthy air compared to last year's report, primarily as a result of improved ozone pollution levels. Unfortunately, the threat of particulate matter air pollution is continuing to worsen every year, however, and close to 1. 1 million people were found to be living in areas with unhealthy PM2. 5 levels compared to the 2020 edition of the report. Particulate matter can be deadly and it emanates from sources ranging from diesel engines and coal-fired power plants to wildfires and wood-burning stoves. Microscopic PM2. 5 particles can result in a host of serious health issues including asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and the development of lung cancer.