A recent report released on Wednesday reveals that approximately 44 million Americans reside in cities or counties where air quality has reached its lowest point in 25 years, earning them failing grades. Wildfires are factors contributing to this decline.
The American Lung Association’s yearly “State of the Air” report highlights that cities with the most compromised air quality are predominantly in the Western United States, such as Los Angeles and San Bernardino in California and Phoenix, Arizona.
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According to Katherine Pruitt, a senior director with the association, places like Bangor, Maine, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Wilmington, North Carolina, are noted for their superior air quality. She explained in an interview that these locations benefit from ocean breezes that help disperse pollutants.
“Dangerous pollution has serious health effects for all people, but especially for the vulnerable,” Pruitt said.
The report highlighted that the primary contributor to increased pollution is small particle pollution, also known as airborne soot, from sources like wildfire smoke.
In 2022, the year the report gathered its data, wildfires scorched over 7.5 million acres across the U.S., as the government’s National Centers for Environmental Information reported.
Meanwhile, Canada experienced its most severe fire season on record the previous year, with wildfires engulfing over 11.5 million acres. The drift of smoke southward led to unhealthy air quality in numerous U.S. and Canadian cities during periods last summer.
