Kiera Jefferson
Air pollution in North America is a pressing issue, with approximately 140 million people living in areas with poor air quality. While emissions of common air pollutants have decreased since 1980, ozone and particle pollution remain a concern, impacting the respiratory and cardiovascular health of residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has not significantly improved air quality in cities like Los Angeles, and power stations' continued use of coal contributes to poor air quality in certain regions. Furthermore, dust from other continents, particularly Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, accounts for a significant portion of North America's particulate pollution.
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What You'll Learn
The impact of air pollution on health
Air pollution is a significant environmental health hazard, and it can have detrimental effects on human health. It refers to the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gases, mist, odour, smoke, or vapour, which can be harmful to human health. The impact of air pollution on health can vary depending on the types and concentrations of pollutants, the level and duration of exposure, as well as individual factors such as age, pre-existing health conditions, and genetics.
One of the main pathways of exposure to air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulphur dioxide (SO2) can be inhaled and penetrate deep into the lungs. Short-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections, and aggravated asthma. Ozone, a powerful lung irritant, can cause inflammation and damage to the delicate lining of the small airways, leading to respiratory problems such as chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath.
Long-term exposure to air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of various diseases and negative health outcomes. Chronic exposure to fine particulate matter can contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases, including stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. Maternal exposure to air pollution has also been associated with adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, pre-term birth, and small gestational age births. Additionally, air pollution has been linked to increased mortality rates, with studies showing that deaths decreased after air pollution regulations were implemented and coal-powered plants were retired.
Certain populations are more vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing chronic conditions are more susceptible to air pollution-related diseases. Socio-demographic factors, such as residential segregation and discrimination, have also led to disproportionate exposure to air pollution in communities of colour, resulting in higher rates of asthma and other health issues. Furthermore, psychosocial stress factors, including poverty and ethnic discrimination, can amplify the harmful effects of air pollution on individuals.
While great progress has been made in improving air quality, air pollution remains a concern for public health. The reduction of air toxics emissions and the implementation of regulations and technological advancements have positively impacted air quality in North America. However, approximately 140 million people in the United States lived in counties with pollution levels above the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2023, highlighting the ongoing need to address air pollution and its impact on human health.
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Pollution from vehicles
Vehicles are a major contributor to air pollution in North America. The transportation sector is responsible for over 55% of NOx total emissions inventory in the US, less than 10% of VOCs emissions, and less than 10% of particulate matter emissions. Cars, trucks, buses, and off-highway mobile sources such as construction vehicles and boats produce at least half of the hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in typical urban areas.
The average passenger vehicle emits about 400 grams of CO2 per mile, or about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year. This assumes an average gasoline vehicle with a fuel economy of about 22.2 miles per gallon and an annual mileage of 11,500 miles. Every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of CO2, or about 20 pounds of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. Modern vehicles are more fuel-efficient, but the growing popularity of SUVs and pickup trucks, as well as an increase in overall driving, offsets much of the progress made in fuel efficiency.
In addition to CO2, automobiles using gasoline produce methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from the tailpipe, and all vehicles can emit hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) from leaking air conditioners. Electric vehicles (EVs) emit lower levels of GHGs, but they still produce some emissions due to HFC leakage.
Air pollution from vehicles has significant health risks, especially for people living near busy roads. Pollutants emitted from vehicles are believed to cause cancer and contribute to asthma, heart disease, birth defects, and eye irritation. Exposure to toxic air pollutants is higher inside vehicles than outside, and California has some of the worst air quality in the US, with nine out of ten Californians living in areas with unhealthy air.
To reduce carbon dioxide pollution and air pollution from vehicles, it is necessary to reduce the use of gasoline and diesel. The EPA provides resources to help consumers make environmentally-informed choices when purchasing vehicles, and the SmartWay light-duty program identifies top-performing vehicles in terms of fuel economy and emissions. The Renewable Fuel Standard program also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the use of renewable fuels produced from plants, crops, and biomass.
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Pollution from industry
North America's pollution levels have seen improvements over the years, but industry remains a significant contributor to air pollution in the region. In 2001, all industries in North America reported 1.3 million metric tons of pollutant releases. Electric utilities were the largest polluters, releasing 341,400 tons of pollutants into the atmosphere, followed by paper producers, who released 85,500 tons. Chemical manufacturing was the third-highest industry for releasing pollutants, and metal-mining companies were also significant polluters.
The transportation sector has been the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States since 2017, accounting for 28.4% of emissions in 2022. Electric power plants are the next largest source, contributing approximately 25% of emissions. The Yale University study found that people of colour in the United States are disproportionately affected by industrial pollution, with Hispanics exposed to 10 out of 14 pollutants, and African Americans exposed to 13 out of 14.
Air pollution is a serious health issue, with an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 human deaths attributed to it annually. The Obama administration's Clean Power Plan was designed to limit carbon dioxide emissions at power plants, but the Trump administration reversed this policy in 2019. Despite this, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made significant progress in reducing air toxics emissions, with a 74% decline from 1990 to 2017.
It is important to note that North America also receives a significant amount of pollution from other continents, particularly Asia. While industrial emissions from emerging Asian economies contribute, much of the pollution is in the form of dust from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, carried by winds across the Pacific Ocean.
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Pollution from other continents
According to a 2012 study by researchers at the University of Maryland, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, and the Universities Space Research Association, approximately half of the particulate pollution in North America originates from other continents, including Asia, Africa, and Europe. This finding underscores the global impact of atmospheric particle movement, which can traverse thousands of miles and influence environmental conditions in distant regions.
The study, led by Hongbin Yu from the University of Maryland, revealed that the majority of pollution migrating into North America's atmosphere is not industrial emissions but rather dust from various regions. Of the total annual accumulation of foreign aerosols, Yu's research found that 87.5% is dust from across the Pacific, 6.25% is composed of combustion aerosols from the same region, and another 6.25% is Saharan dust from across the Atlantic. This highlights that while North America's domestic pollution is a significant contributor, external factors, particularly dust from other continents, play a substantial role in the overall pollution levels.
The findings of the study have implications for the understanding of North American air quality and climate change. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges the presence of foreign pollution in the United States, the exact amount of imported aerosols remains uncertain. The study's results suggest that the EPA's current emission controls may be insufficient to counteract the impact of pollution from other continents, particularly when considering the contribution of dust.
It is worth noting that North America also faces significant domestic pollution challenges. Electric utilities, metal-mining companies, and chemical manufacturers are among the top polluting industries, with air emissions making up a substantial portion of the total pollutant releases in the United States and Canada. Despite progress in air quality improvement, approximately 140 million people in the United States lived in counties with pollution levels above the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2023. This highlights the ongoing need for stringent pollution controls and the implementation of regulations to address both domestic and imported pollution sources.
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Air quality in California
California's air quality is relatively unhealthy compared to other US states. The state's large population of 39 million, significant port industry, and growing economy create significant emissions from traffic, diesel trucks, construction, agriculture, and domestic sources. California's environmental conditions are also prone to frequent and severe wildfires, with mountainous terrain that traps pollution, and a warm climate that contributes to ozone formation. These factors present additional challenges to the state's air quality.
In 2018, California averaged a PM2.5 concentration of 12.1 μg/m3 ("moderate"), with only 35.7% of cities meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) target for annual PM2.5 exposure of 10 μg/m3. The American Lung Association's "State of the Air 2019" report ranked California as the state with the worst air pollution, with the top five cities for worst annual PM2.5 levels and worst ozone levels all located in California. These cities include Bakersfield, Fresno-Madera-Hanford, Visalia, Los Angeles-Long Beach, and San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland.
The impact of wildfires on California's air quality is significant. The 2020 wildfire season, for example, caused pollution levels to rise far above typical local ranges, with cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco experiencing multiple days of sustained unhealthy air quality. According to a 2010 study by the California Air Resources Board, PM2.5 pollution is estimated to cause over 9,200 deaths in California each year, with a statistical range of 7,300 to 11,000 deaths.
While wildfires are a major contributor to California's poor air quality, other factors include regulatory rollbacks on air pollution and emissions standards. As of 2019, the Trump administration had completed 16 rollbacks, with dozens more in progress, weakening governmental emission standards and enforcement of polluting industries. Sparsely populated interior cities in California tend to have better air quality due to lower vehicular and industrial emissions and less frequent wildfires. Examples of these cities include Yucca Valley, Lee Vining, and Twentynine Palms.
Overall, California's air quality is a significant concern, with human-driven climate change expected to further intensify the severity of wildfires and air pollution in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a 2024 report, 39% of Americans (around 131.2 million people) live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Los Angeles is the city with the most contaminated air in the country.
Some of the main sources of pollution in North America are diesel engines, ports, motor vehicles, industries, coal power stations, and delivery trucks.
Air pollution has been linked to respiratory problems, which account for 88% of premature deaths in low-income to middle-class counties in America. It also affects the cardiovascular system, with exposure to air pollution leading to adverse cardiovascular health outcomes in both children and adults.
