Americans And Air Pollution: Millions Breathe Polluted Air

Air pollution is a pressing issue in the United States, with approximately 135 million Americans exposed to unhealthy air, according to the American Lung Association. This figure represents around 39% of the population, indicating that nearly 4 in 10 Americans are affected by poor air quality. The sources of air pollution are diverse, including household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities, and forest fires. Among the pollutants of concern are particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The effects of breathing polluted air range from respiratory issues to more severe health problems such as lung cancer, heart disease, and strokes. Certain groups, such as people of color and low-income communities, bear a disproportionate burden of air pollution and its associated health risks. Addressing air pollution is crucial not only for public health but also for mitigating climate change, as many sources of air pollution are also contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

The impact on people of colour

A 2024 report by the American Lung Association found that 39% of Americans (131.2 million people) live in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. People of colour, who make up 41.6% of the US population, are disproportionately affected by this issue. They are 52% of the people living in a county with at least one failing grade for air quality. In the counties with the worst air quality, 63% of the nearly 44 million residents are people of colour, compared to 37% who are white. People of colour were also 2.3 times more likely than white people to live in a county with three failing grades.

People of colour in the US are exposed to higher levels of particulate air pollution, regardless of income level or region. This is due to various factors, including systemic racism, housing policy, and the location of pollution sources near disadvantaged communities.

A 2021 study in Science Advances found that people of colour are exposed to higher concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from 12 out of 14 groups of emission sources. These particles are small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing respiratory and heart disease. Exposure to PM2.5 is linked to increased health risks, especially for vulnerable populations such as young and old people and those with chronic diseases.

The impact of air pollution on the health of people of colour is significant. Studies have found that non-white populations, particularly African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, face a higher risk of premature death from particle pollution compared to white populations. This disparity persists even when controlling for income, suggesting that other factors, such as chronic stress due to discrimination, may be contributing to the increased risk.

Additionally, people of colour are more likely to live in areas with higher levels of pollution. A 2011 analysis found that non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics were more likely to reside in counties with worse particle and ozone pollution problems. The location of pollution sources near disadvantaged communities contributes to this disparity.

The impact on low-income communities

Despite improvements in air quality in the US since the Clean Air Act was passed in 1963, low-income communities continue to be disproportionately affected by air pollution. Contributing factors to this issue include the lack of emissions regulations and their enforcement, the disproportionate placement of pollution sources near low-income neighbourhoods, and the excessive political power of large emitters.

Firstly, the lack of government emissions regulations and enforcement, especially in low-income areas, allows industries to continue emitting unhealthy amounts of pollution, often without repercussions. For example, the Clean Air Act rarely requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or industries to monitor or report toxic air pollutants. This means that companies are able to emit more pollutants without repercussions, and information about local pollution levels is often unavailable to residents who live near these large plants and factories.

Secondly, point sources of pollution, such as power plants, factories, and truck routes, are often placed near low-income neighbourhoods. This is because decision-makers know that they are unlikely to face opposition from these communities, and because low-income neighbourhoods offer financial incentives for industries with cheaper land, low-cost labour, and easier access to transportation. As a result, counties in the US with the worst air quality have higher rates of poverty compared to counties with the highest air quality.

Finally, large corporations hold much greater lobbying and political power than low-income households, which often leads to lax environmental regulations that benefit corporations over low-income individuals. Fossil fuel industries, for example, are well-known for their political influence and wealth, which are consistently used against proposals for stricter environmental regulations.

The negative consequences of this overexposure to air pollution for low-income individuals include both physical and mental health issues, as well as impaired cognitive function. Air pollution has been linked to respiratory diseases, heart disease, and adverse birth outcomes. It also poses a serious risk to human health, with one study showing that reducing pollution can have a rapid and significant positive impact on human health; within just a few weeks after reducing pollution exposure, many pollution-related illnesses such as asthma decreased significantly.

In addition, exposure to air pollution can impair memory and learning ability, even after short-term exposure. This is particularly detrimental to children, as it can impair their ability to develop and learn during their formative years. Finally, research has shown a statistically significant relationship between exposure to air pollution and mental health, with overexposure to air pollution being linked to mental health disorders in both children and adults.

The health effects of particulate pollution

Particulate pollution, also known as "particle pollution" or "soot", is a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles in the air we breathe. These particles vary in size, shape, and chemical composition, and can include inorganic ions, metallic compounds, elemental carbon, organic compounds, and compounds from the earth's crust. The size of these particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health issues.

Particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter are the most dangerous, as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. These particles can affect both the lungs and the heart and have been linked to a variety of health problems, including:

• Premature death in people with heart or lung disease
• Nonfatal heart attacks
• Decreased lung function
• Increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing

While anyone can be affected by particulate pollution, certain individuals are at a higher risk, including:

• People with heart or lung diseases
• Children
• Older adults
• Minority populations
• Low socioeconomic status populations

Short-Term Effects

Short-term acute exposure to high levels of particulate pollution can trigger:

• Cardiovascular events
• Hospitalization
• Mortality

Extensive research has linked short-term increases in particulate pollution to:

• Increased mortality in infants
• Increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and ischemic heart disease
• Increased hospital admissions and emergency department visits for COPD
• Increased hospitalization for asthma among children
• Increased severity of asthma attacks in children

Long-Term Effects

Long-term chronic exposure to low levels of particulate pollution can have the following health impacts:

• Increased risk of strokes
• Coronary heart disease
• Premature deaths
• Higher likelihood of children developing asthma
• Worsening of COPD in adults
• Slowed lung function growth in children and teenagers
• Higher likelihood of getting lung cancer
• Higher likelihood of developing diabetes
• Neurological effects in adults, including reduced brain volume, cognitive decrements, and dementia
• Impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and fetal and infant mortality
• Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease

Environmental Effects

Particulate matter can also have significant environmental effects, such as:

• Reduced visibility, particularly in national parks and wilderness areas
• Environmental damage, including making lakes and streams acidic, changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins, depleting nutrients in soil, damaging sensitive forests and farm crops, affecting ecosystem diversity, and contributing to acid rain effects
• Damage to stone and other materials, including culturally important objects such as statues and monuments

The sources of particulate pollution

According to the American Lung Association's 2024 "State of the Air" report, around 39% of the population of the United States (approximately 131.2 million people) live in areas with unhealthy levels of particle pollution. This figure represents an increase of 11.7 million people compared to the previous year's report. Particle pollution is comprised of a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, and smoke. These particles come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can be composed of hundreds of different chemicals.

There are two main types of particulate matter (PM) sources: primary and secondary. Primary PM sources are derived from both human and natural activities. Human activities that contribute to primary PM include agricultural operations, industrial processes, combustion of wood and fossil fuels, construction and demolition activities, and the entrainment of road dust into the air. Natural sources include windblown dust and wildfires. These sources directly emit particles into the air, either as primary emissions or formed in the atmosphere as secondary emissions through the transformation of gaseous emissions.

Secondary PM sources, on the other hand, emit air contaminants that help form particulate matter in the atmosphere. These secondary pollutants include SOx, NOx, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and ammonia. By implementing control measures that reduce PM precursor emissions, ambient PM levels can be positively impacted.

It is important to note that the burden of air pollution is not evenly distributed. Poorer people and certain racial and ethnic groups are often disproportionately affected by particle pollution. Studies have shown that non-white populations, particularly African Americans, face a higher risk of adverse health effects from particle pollution. Residential segregation has resulted in African Americans living in areas with greater exposure to air pollution. Additionally, socioeconomic status plays a role, with low-income communities experiencing greater harm from air pollution.

The cost of air pollution to the US

Air pollution is a serious issue in the United States, with far-reaching consequences for public health, the economy, and the environment. The costs of air pollution are borne by individuals, communities, and the country as a whole, and they are significant.

Health Costs

According to the American Lung Association's "State of the Air" 2024 report, 39% of Americans (approximately 131.2 million people) live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. This is a marked increase from the previous year's report, with 11.7 million more people breathing unhealthy air. The report also highlights disparities in air quality across racial and ethnic lines, with people of colour being 2.3 times more likely to live in counties with failing grades for air quality.

The health impacts of air pollution are significant, with exposure to particle pollution linked to an increased risk of lung cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. A report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that air pollution from fossil fuels contributes to an estimated 107,000 premature deaths in the US each year. Additionally, air pollution is linked to an increased risk of asthma attacks, particularly in communities with high poverty rates and among people of colour.

Economic Costs

The economic costs of air pollution in the US are substantial. A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that air pollution cost the US approximately $790 billion in 2014, or about 5% of its yearly gross domestic product (GDP). The highest costs were attributed to early deaths due to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). While overall damages from air pollution in the US have been decreasing in recent years, certain economic sectors, such as agriculture, utilities, manufacturing, and transportation, contribute disproportionately to air pollution-related damages.

On a per-person level, air pollution costs each American an average of $2,500 per year in extra medical bills, according to a report by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. This figure is based on a national price tag of over $820 billion per year.

Environmental Costs

In addition to the direct health and economic costs, air pollution also takes a toll on the environment. A 2016 study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) predicted that, without significant changes, the annual global welfare costs due to premature deaths from outdoor air pollution would reach $18-25 trillion by 2060. This includes the costs of illness, estimated at $2.2 trillion.

However, there is hope. The UN Environment's sixth Global Environment Outlook predicts that achieving the Paris Agreement targets for mitigating climate change will cost $22 trillion, but it will save $54 trillion in resulting health benefits. Taking immediate action against air pollution can lead to net savings of $32 trillion, improving public health, the climate, and the economy.

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