44% of US Population in Failing Air Quality Counties

A new report from the American Lung Association reveals that 152.3 million people, or 44 percent of the U.S. population, reside in counties with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone or particle pollution, based on data from 2022 to 2024. The findings, detailed in the organization's 27th annual State of the Air report released this week, highlight particular risks to children, with 33.5 million under age 18, or 46 percent of that group, living in areas failing at least one air quality measure.

The report evaluates three key pollutants: ground-level ozone, known as smog, and both year-round and short-term spikes in fine particle pollution, often referred to as soot or PM2.5. Ozone exposure affected 129.1 million people, or 38 percent of the population, marking the highest number in six years and a 3.9 million increase from the prior period. Particle pollution impacted 62 million for short-term spikes and additional areas for year-round exposure. Only one metropolitan area, Bangor, Maine, earned top marks across all three categories, a decline from previous years when more cities achieved similar success.

Certain regions face the most severe challenges. Los...