Author: Kanchan Yadav
Air pollution is a significant health concern, impacting individuals universally, and research indicates that air pollution disproportionately affects certain demographics, notably communities of color and low-income populations. Exposure to substandard air quality is linked to both acute and chronic health issues, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women. The health risks are exacerbated for those residing near pollution sources like factories, major roadways, and ports with heavy diesel truck activity. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors compound the susceptibility of low-income communities and people of color to the adverse effects of climate change.
Nationally, the "State of the Air 2024 report" reveals that a significant portion of the U.S. population continues to be affected by air pollution, despite considerable efforts to improve air quality over decades. Specifically, 131.2 million Americans, constituting 39 percent of the population, reside in areas where ozone or particle pollution levels exceed health standards. This represents an increase of 11.7 million individuals from the previous year's findings. These statistics underscore ongoing challenges in reducing air pollution nationwide, highlighting widespread exposure to harmful pollutants and associated health risks across the country.
However, these risks are not distributed equally across the United States. Air pollution in the US disproportionately affects communities of color and those living in poverty. Over 68.9 million people of color reside in counties with failing grades for ozone and/or particle pollution, with 27.5 million in areas failing all measures. Similarly, 16 million individuals living beneath the poverty line reside in counties failing at least one pollutant grade (which means the concentration of one pollutant exceeds the limits set by health or environmental authorities), including 5.4 million in areas failing on all counts of all pollutants. These groups face heightened, correlated risks of respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and adverse pregnancy outcomes due to exposure to unhealthy air quality, reflecting significant disparities in environmental health impacts based on socioeconomic and racial factors — and highlighting why local leaders should use an equity lens when addressing these issues.
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