More than 152 million people in the United States, or about 44%, live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association's (ALA) 2026 State of the Air report released Wednesday. The report highlights that nearly half of U.S. children reside in counties with failing grades for at least one measure of air pollution.
Key Takeaways
Over 152 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, according to the American Lung Association's 2026 State of the Air report. This affects nearly half of U.S. children and disproportionately impacts communities of color.
- Over 44% of Americans exposed to unhealthy air
- Nearly half of U.S. children live in polluted areas
- Climate change exacerbates pollution levels
- Data centers emerging as new pollution sources
The ALA report assessed air quality based on ground-level ozone, short-term particle pollution, and year-round particle pollution. It found that 46% of U.S. children live in areas with failing grades for at least one pollutant, while 10% live in counties failing all three measures.
Experts warn that children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution due to their developing lungs and higher outdoor activity levels. The report also noted that communities of color are disproportionately affected, being 2.42 times more likely than white individuals to live in areas with poor air quality.
The report attributed worsening air quality trends to extreme heat, droughts, and wildfires exacerbated by climate change. It also identified data centers as emerging sources of pollution due to their reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation.
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