Meghan Hodges
Air pollution is a critical health and environmental issue worldwide, with varying severity across different countries and regions. While indoor air pollution in low-income countries tends to be high due to the use of solid fuels for cooking, outdoor air pollution is typically higher in middle-income countries undergoing industrialization. Over the past few decades, global death rates from total air pollution have decreased, largely due to improvements in indoor air quality. However, the situation is more nuanced when considering specific countries and regions. For instance, in the United States, air pollution levels have generally improved since the 1970s, with a 78% reduction in the six principal air pollutants between 1970 and 2023. Despite this progress, about 46% of Americans lived in areas with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution in 2025, and data from 2018 suggests that eroding air quality contributed to nearly 10,000 additional deaths compared to 2016.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air quality in Phoenix, Arizona | Improved, but there is still room for improvement. |
| Particle pollution in the Valley | Improved from 2021 to 2023. |
| Phoenix metro area's ranking for worst year-round particle pollution | Moved from 9th to 20th place. |
| Phoenix's ranking for unhealthy ozone days | 4th in the nation. |
| Arizona's air quality issues | Western wildfire activity and stagnant weather. |
| EPA's environmental justice office | Potential closure. |
| EPA's EJScreen tool | Removed, no longer available to the public. |
| EPA's new goal in January 2015 | Cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40–45% from 2012 levels by 2025. |
| EPA standards | Successful in achieving large reductions in national emissions of air toxics. |
| Global acute pollution | Reduced through regulations. |
| Broad-scale pollution | Improved significantly (lead, mercury, ozone-depleting substances). |
| California smog | Better since the 1950s. |
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What You'll Learn
Air quality improvements in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona, has some of the worst air quality in the country. The city's air quality is largely impacted by its hot, desert-like climate, with the prevalence of heat domes and temperature inversions trapping in pollution. The city's high temperatures, alongside droughts and wildfires, contribute to increased particle pollution.
The American Lung Association's 2019 "State of the Air" report found that Phoenix experienced more unhealthy days of ozone and saw an increase in particle pollution. The report ranked Phoenix 7th for year-round particle pollution and 10th for short-term particle pollution. Phoenix's ozone levels also remain a challenge, with the city's ranking for ozone pollution downgraded from "marginal" to "moderate" by the EPA.
However, there are signs of improvement. Phoenix had fewer unhealthy days in 2021's report than in 2020, with fewer high-ozone days from 2019-2021 than in the previous three years. The city also saw a drastic improvement in air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic, with reduced tourism and more people staying at home and driving less.
Additionally, Phoenix has set ambitious goals for improving its air quality by 2050. The city aims to achieve the best air quality for its human population and the environment, with excellent visibility on at least 90% of days. To achieve this, Phoenix is focusing on reducing ozone and dust particulate pollution. The city is promoting initiatives such as transit, light rail, cycle paths, and pedestrian-friendly areas to reduce vehicle emissions and encourage a more sustainable and vehicle-free environment.
While Phoenix still has work to do to improve its air quality, these efforts show a commitment to creating a healthier and more environmentally friendly city.
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The EPA's environmental justice office closure
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been criticised for its decision to close its Environmental Justice and Civil Rights Office, with many arguing that this will negatively impact communities already suffering from pollution and toxic exposures.
The EPA's decision to close the office is part of a broader deregulatory agenda under the Trump administration, which aims to "unleash American energy" and lower the cost of living. The EPA has stated that these moves are "organizational improvements" that will help the agency better meet its core mission of protecting human health and the environment. However, critics argue that the closure will result in fewer investigations into environmental discrimination and less protection for vulnerable communities.
The Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR), founded in 1992, has played a crucial role in enforcing the representation of communities impacted by pollution and toxic exposures in environmental policy. The office has been a vital tool for environmental justice advocates, academics, and regulators, allowing them to identify neighbourhoods heavily impacted by pollution and industry. The closure of the office is expected to result in a decrease in EPA staff working on environmental programs from around 15,000 to about 5,000.
The decision to close the office has been met with resistance from environmental justice organisations, community leaders, and advocates, who argue that it erases hard-won environmental protections and grants polluters a license to act with impunity. They emphasise the need for continued advocacy and intervention to ensure that federal agencies prioritise public health and protect citizens from the harmful effects of pollution.
Despite the closure of the office, over-polluted communities remain committed to fighting for clean air and environmental justice. This includes groups like Inclusive Louisiana, an environmental justice nonprofit that has been working to stop the construction of a complex housing petrochemical facilities in St. James, Louisiana.
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Progress towards national air quality standards
The Clean Air Act requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six principal pollutants, or "criteria pollutants", that are common in outdoor air and considered harmful to public health and the environment. These six criteria pollutants are ozone, particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
The statute establishes two types of national air quality standards: primary and secondary. Primary standards are designed to protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, including the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards, on the other hand, are designed to protect the public welfare from adverse effects, including damage to soils, water, crops, vegetation, man-made materials, animals, wildlife, weather, visibility, and climate, as well as damage to property, transportation hazards, economic values, and personal comfort and well-being.
The EPA works with each state to assess whether the air quality in any areas of the state is violating the new or revised standards. This assessment is typically based on ambient air quality measurements performed in and near the state's population centers. The EPA makes the final decision on which areas, if any, are designated as not attaining a given standard.
Despite the EPA's efforts, some communities continue to fight for clean air. For example, people living in the river parishes have expressed concern over the Trump administration's plans to close the office meant to help them and the removal of key tools such as EJScreen, which helped identify communities heavily impacted by pollution and climate change.
While there is still room for improvement, some areas have shown progress in improving their air quality. For instance, the air quality in metro Phoenix, Arizona, has improved, with the state successfully cutting emissions by 70% over three decades, according to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. However, western wildfire activity and stagnant weather continue to affect Arizona's air quality. Similarly, while the fight for clean air in Phoenix continues, the American Lung Association's report shows that the amount of particle pollution in the Valley improved from 2021 to 2023, with Phoenix moving from ninth to 20th place on the national list for the worst year-round particle pollution.
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EPA's new goal to cut methane emissions
While pollution has generally gotten better over the years, there is still room for improvement. A report from the American Lung Association shows that the air quality in metro Phoenix improved from 2021 to 2023, yet it still ranks fourth in the nation for unhealthy ozone days. Similarly, while the Clean Water Act of 1972 has improved water quality in the United States, cities like Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, have continued to face water crises.
In an effort to further reduce pollution, the EPA has recently focused on cutting methane emissions. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a rule to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, aiming to reduce 41 million tons of methane emissions from 2023 to 2035. This rule is part of President Biden's Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan and is authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act. The EPA estimates that this rule will have a minimal impact on natural gas and oil prices.
The EPA's methane emissions reduction efforts include updated and broadened methane and VOC emission reduction requirements for new, modified, and reconstructed oil and gas sources. This includes standards for previously unregulated sources, such as intermittent vent pneumatic controllers and associated gas. The EPA is also requiring states to develop plans to limit methane emissions from existing sources and engage with overburdened and underserved communities in the planning process.
To support these efforts, the EPA and the US Department of Energy are providing over $1 billion in financial and technical assistance. This assistance includes funding for monitoring and mitigation of methane emissions, as well as resources to improve methane emissions monitoring, detection, measurement, and quantification. The EPA is also establishing a Waste Emissions Charge (WEC) for methane, which will incentivize companies to reduce methane emissions and conserve energy resources.
Through these actions, the EPA aims to reduce methane emissions, protect communities living near oil and gas facilities, and advance the nation's climate goals under the Paris Agreement. By addressing methane emissions from the oil and gas industry and encouraging innovative solutions, the EPA is taking a leading role in confronting the climate crisis.
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California smog improvements since the 1950s
California has been at the forefront of the fight against air pollution since the 1940s. The first recognised episodes of smog occurred in Los Angeles in 1943, with visibility reduced to just three blocks, causing burning eyes and lungs, and nausea for residents. Despite initial blame being placed on a nearby butadiene plant, the smog continued after the plant was shut down. In 1947, the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District was formed, marking the beginning of California's efforts to combat air pollution.
It was not until the 1950s that the role of automobile emissions in causing smog was discovered by Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit. His research identified the reaction between sunlight and automobile exhaust, as well as industrial air pollution, as the main culprits behind smog formation. This discovery became the foundation for modern air pollution regulations. California took swift action by forming the Bureau of Air Sanitation within the California Department of Public Health and establishing the first tailpipe emissions standards in the nation in 1966.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) was established in 1967 and has played a pivotal role in the state's air quality improvements. Under CARB's leadership, California adopted the nation's first NOx emissions standards for motor vehicles and led the development of the catalytic converter, a game-changer in reducing smog-forming emissions from cars. Through partnerships between state and federal regulators, California has implemented air pollution control strategies that have served as a model for other states and countries.
While California has made significant strides in improving air quality, smog and air pollution remain pressing issues, particularly in Los Angeles and the Central Valley. The state's growing population, reliance on car travel, and sunny weather continue to exacerbate the smog problem. Despite these challenges, California remains committed to enforcing its laws and working towards stabilising climate change and improving air quality for all residents.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the type of pollution and the region in question. Overall, some types of pollution have improved significantly, such as lead, mercury, and ozone-depleting substances. Air pollution in California has improved since the 1950s, with visible air pollution being less frequent and widespread than in previous decades. However, there are still concerns about specific types of pollution, such as plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which are posing significant challenges.
California and Phoenix, Arizona, are two examples where pollution has improved over time. In California, the infamous smog that plagued the state since the 1950s has significantly reduced, with residents noting a drastic change in air quality over the years. Similarly, in Phoenix, air quality has improved, with a report from the American Lung Association showing a decrease in particle pollution from 2021 to 2023.
Various organizations and governments are implementing initiatives to tackle pollution. For instance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has successfully reduced national emissions of air toxics and set goals to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. Local agencies and universities in Phoenix are partnering to address the ozone problem in the region. Additionally, the EPA has proposed measures to reduce smog-forming air pollution and has launched programs like the National Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program to encourage oil and gas companies to reduce methane emissions.
