Worst U.S. cities for air pollution ranked in new American Lung Association report

Almost four out of every 10 people in the United States live in a place where air pollution is considered bad enough to put their health at risk, the American Lung Association warned in its latest "State of the Air" report released on Wednesday. That proportion of people — about 39% of the population — had risen sharply since earlier rounds of pollutant data were analyzed for the annual report last year, and the trends were especially pronounced in certain parts of the country.

This year's air quality report was based on pollution data collected in 2020, 2021 and 2022 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The American Lung Association, a charity organization focused on improving lung health and addressing lung disease,has released "State of the Air" reports annually since 2000.

The new report's findings show that roughly 131 million Americans were breathing unhealthy air during the three-year monitoring period. That number had jumped by almost 10% since the lung association issued its "State of the Air" report in 2023, when data showed 11.7 million fewer people had been regularly exposed to toxic and potentially deadly pollutants. Echoing longstanding concerns from experts and advocates across the board, the newest findings highlight a disproportionate environmental threat to people of color.