Climate variety is driving increases in unhealthy air , place 150 million Americans – near one-half of the state ’s population – at hazard for associated respiratory issues amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
A recentstudyfrom Harvard University ground airwave pollution is linked to higher death rates connect with the respiratory disease Covid-19 make by the SARS - CoV-2 computer virus . last and breathe polluted air , particularly during times of increase vulnerability , may be putting the health and lives of Americans at risk of exposure .
" Air pollution is linked to greater risk of lung contagion , " said American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer in astatement . " protect everyone from Covid-19 and other lung infections is an urgent monitor of the grandness of sporty zephyr . "
In its 161 - pageState of the Air report , theAmerican Lung Associationanalyzedozone pollutionand corpuscle befoulment datum from 2016 , 2017 , and 2018 – all of which are among the five hot yearson track record . westerly counties were found to be experiencing platter - breaking spikes in atom pollution , largely associated with mood - spurred wildfire season that have sweep through the western US .
Particle pollution , also known as PM2.5 , is made up of unhealthy particles from wildfires , wood - burning range , and coal - fired flora , among other sources . These microscopic subatomic particle can become wedge in the lung to potentially enter the bloodstream , spark bronchial asthma attacks and other respiratory impact . During the timeframe analyzed , most cities saw an increase in number of days where the casual fussy pollution detected was high than fair , while nine states hand the most number of days with above average PM2.5 ever report , which were largely tie in to California’sdeadly 2018 wildfire season .
Worst US Cities By Daily Particle Pollution Average
1 . Fresno - Madera - Hanford , California
2 . Bakersfield , California
3 . San Jose - San Francisco - Oakland , California
4 . Douglas Fairbanks Jr. , Alaska
5 . Yakima , Washington
6 . Los Angeles - Long Beach , California
7 . Missoula , Montana
8 . Redding - Red Bluff , California
9 . Salt Lake City - Provo - Orem , Utah
10 . Phoenix - Mesa , Arizona
bad US Cities For Annual Particle Pollution
1 . Bakersfield , California
2 . Fresno - Madera - Hanford , California
3 . Visalia , California
4 . Los Angeles - Long Beach , California
5 . San Jose - San Francisco - Oakland , California
6 . Fairbanks , Alaska
7 . Phoenix - Mesa , Arizona
8 . El Centro , California
9 . Pittsburgh - New Castle - Weirton , PA - OH - WV
10 . Detroit - Warren - Ann Arbor , Michigan
Ozone pollution , also known as smog , is a respiratory thorn that can get shortness of breathing space and respiratory issues as well as shorten life-time . Warmer temperature associated with climate modification can drive the formation of ozone pollution and make it more hard to clean up . Across the nation , more than 137 million people live in an orbit with what is considered a “ failing form ” for ozone pollution .
Top 10 Most Ozone - Polluted Cities
1 . Los Angeles - Long Beach , California
2 . Visalia , California
3 . Bakersfield , California
4 . Fresno - Madera - Hanford , California
5 . Sacramento - Roseville , California
6 . San Diego - Chula Vista - Carlsbad , California
8 . San Jose - San Francisco - Oakland , California
9 . Las Vegas - Henderson , Nevada
10 . Denver - Aurora , Colorado
Air quality has improved in some community , among them the San Francisco Bay Area , which have less ozone air pollution than antecedently immortalize . The country ’s four unobjectionable cities were those that did not feel high ozone or particle pollution days and also saw the lowest yearly particle defilement levels .
Cleanest US Cities ( not ranked )
Even so , the account notes that many Americans are still breathing unhealthful aura that affect everyone , especially vulnerable population like children , the elderly , and the great unwashed living with underlying health weather condition such as asthma and lung disease .
" The science is clear : the nation needs strong limits on ozone and speck defilement to safeguard wellness , specially for children and multitude with lung disease . Every phratry has the right wing to breathe healthy air – and the right hand to sleep with when air pollution levels are unhealthy , ” reason out Wimmer .
