Meghan Hodges
There is conflicting evidence regarding whether pollution is getting worse. While some reports indicate that air quality has improved over the years due to regulatory efforts and technological advancements, climate change-induced wildfires, heatwaves, and droughts are now significant contributors to air pollution, making it challenging to maintain clean air. According to the American Lung Association, one in three Americans still breathes unhealthy air, and this number is rising.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution trends in the US | Air pollution in the US is getting worse in some states and improving in others. |
| Number of Americans breathing unhealthy air | Nearly 2 in 5 Americans (over 90 million people) breathe unhealthy air, according to the 2023 State of the Air report. |
| Impact of climate change | Climate change is worsening air quality by fueling wildfires, drought, and dust. |
| Impact of wildfires | Wildfires are a significant contributor to air pollution, and their impact is worsening due to climate change. |
| Impact of drought and heat waves | Drought and heat waves contribute to air pollution by increasing ground-level ozone and particulate matter. |
| Health effects of air pollution | Air pollution is linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cognitive issues, and adverse effects on pregnant people and the developing fetus. |
| Progress in reducing emissions | There has been progress in reducing emissions from stationary sources and vehicles, with a significant decline in toxic air pollution since 1990. |
| Effect of regulations | Regulations, such as the Clean Air Act, have helped improve air quality, but the impact is being undermined by climate change. |
| Racial disparities | People of color are more likely to live in areas with failing grades for ozone or particulate matter, exacerbating health disparities. |
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What You'll Learn
Climate change worsens air quality
Climate change is causing a decline in air quality, and poor air quality is also contributing to climate change. Atmospheric warming associated with climate change increases ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant that causes smog and poses a threat to lungs, hearts, and brains. The 10 warmest years on record have occurred within the last decade, and temperatures are expected to continue rising. This is significant because hot, sunny days can increase the amount of ozone at ground level.
In addition to ozone, climate change is increasing the amount of particulate matter in the air. Particulate matter is a pollutant that is roughly 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair and is capable of infiltrating the lungs and bloodstream. Wildfires, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change, contribute significantly to particulate matter in the air. In 2020, wildfires burned over 10 million acres of land in the United States, the highest amount ever recorded. Smoke from these fires lowers air quality, increases exposure to harmful pollutants, and causes negative health outcomes such as respiratory illnesses, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and bronchitis.
Climate change is also causing an increase in pollen and other airborne allergens. Higher carbon dioxide concentrations and rising temperatures lead to an increase in the types of plants that cause allergies, as well as an increase in the amount of pollen produced by these plants. This, in turn, can lead to more allergy-related illnesses such as asthma and hay fever.
The impact of climate change on air quality is not uniform across all regions, and certain areas are more vulnerable than others. For example, in the Arctic, ozone pollution is causing the region to warm faster than any other on Earth. This is due in part to positive feedback loops, where warming melts snow and ice, changing the Earth's surface and leading to further warming.
Overall, the complex relationship between climate change and air quality is a significant challenge that requires urgent attention. While regulatory initiatives, partnership programs, and individual actions can help reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, the worsening effects of climate change are making it increasingly difficult to combat air pollution and protect public health.
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Wildfires, heatwaves, and droughts
Climate change is worsening air pollution and making it increasingly challenging to combat. A 2023 report by the American Lung Association found that one in three people in the US lives in a county with unhealthy air. This number rose to nearly two in five in 2024, with more than 90 million people living in places where the air quality is worse than the US standard.
Climate change is linked to more frequent, severe, and longer heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires, which are making it harder to improve air quality. Warmer and drier conditions caused by climate change increase the likelihood of wildfires. For example, in 2023, extreme "fire weather" conditions in eastern Canada were more than twice as likely due to rising temperatures, according to the World Weather Attribution group (WWA). The combined effects of shifting land use and climate change may cause extreme wildfires to become more frequent and intense globally, with the number of the most extreme fires potentially rising by up to 50% by 2100, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
The area affected by wildfires in the United States is also increasing. The number of large fires in the western United States doubled between 1984 and 2015, and the risk of wildfire is expected to grow across the country due to reduced precipitation and higher temperatures. Wildfires have far-reaching impacts on communities, regions, watersheds, and ecosystems, and they directly affect air quality. Wildfire smoke has been linked to poor air quality, leading to significant health effects and costs to society, including emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and even deaths, often due to respiratory ailments.
Droughts are also being exacerbated by climate change. In East Africa, there were five failed rainy seasons in a row between 2020 and 2022, resulting in the displacement of 1.2 million people in Somalia alone. The WWA found that climate change made this drought 100 times more likely. Climate change has also been the main driver of droughts in other regions, such as the Amazon rainforest in 2023, which experienced its worst drought since modern records began.
Heatwaves fuelled by climate change can worsen dry conditions and intensify heat. During heatwaves, increased water demand, especially from farmers, puts additional stress on the water supply. This can have significant impacts on agriculture and food security.
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Air pollution's health impact
Air pollution is a major threat to global health and prosperity. It is defined as the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere, such as dust, fumes, gas, mist, odour, smoke or vapour, in quantities that can be harmful to human health. The health impact of air pollution exposure depends on the duration and concentrations of exposure, as well as the health status of the affected populations.
The main pathway of exposure from air pollution is through the respiratory tract. Pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) can be inhaled deeply into lung tissue, causing inflammation, oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and mutagenicity in cells throughout the body. This can impact the lungs, heart, and brain, among other organs, and ultimately lead to disease. Particulate matter contributes to around 70% of health effects due to air pollution in the US. Ozone pollution, which causes smoggy air, also poses a threat to lungs, hearts, and brains.
The health effects of air pollution are not limited to physical health. Psychosocial stress, noise, and diet can also be modifying factors that influence the impact of air pollution on health. People in low socioeconomic neighbourhoods and communities may be more vulnerable to air pollution due to proximity to industrial sources of pollution, underlying health problems, poor nutrition, stress, and other factors.
In addition, air pollution can have transgressive effects, impacting individuals beyond those who are directly exposed. For example, some toxic air pollutants accumulate in the food chain after depositing into soils and surface waters, affecting wildlife, livestock, and plants.
While air quality has improved over the past few decades due to regulations and technological advancements, climate change is now complicating progress. Worsening drought, heat waves, and wildfires are making it harder to combat pollution and improve air quality. As a result, a rising number of people—nearly 2 in 5 Americans—are living with unhealthy levels of air pollution.
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Rising particle pollution
Particle pollution, also known as particulate matter or PM, is a general term for a mixture of solid and liquid droplets suspended in the air. These particles come in a variety of sizes and shapes and can be made up of several components, including acids, inorganic compounds, metals, and soil or dust particles. While some particles are large enough to be seen with the naked eye, others are so small that they can only be detected using an electron microscope.
Fine and coarse particles differ in their sources, composition, and health effects. Fine particles, also known as PM2.5, are 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller and pose the greatest health risks. They are capable of bypassing the body's natural defenses and penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream. Exposure to fine particles has been linked to increased mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and lung cancer. It can also worsen existing medical conditions such as heart disease and asthma.
The sources of fine particles vary, with some particles, known as primary particles, being emitted directly from sources such as construction sites, unpaved roads, and fires. Secondary particles, on the other hand, form through complicated atmospheric reactions involving chemicals emitted from power plants, industries, and automobiles. Climate change, including increased wildfires, drought, and dust, is also contributing to rising particle pollution by making it more challenging to combat.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency has been working to improve air quality and reduce pollutant emissions for over 50 years. While there has been progress, with emissions of most key air pollutants declining since 1990, the trend changed abruptly a few years ago due to the increasing impact of wildfires, heat, and drought, fueled by climate change. As a result, nearly 2 in 5 Americans are now breathing unhealthy air, and the number of people living in counties with unhealthy spikes in particle pollution continues to rise.
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Clean Air Act's progress
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the United States' primary federal air quality law, designed to reduce and control air pollution across the nation. The Act was first enacted in 1963 and has since been amended several times, making it one of the country's earliest and most influential modern environmental laws. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with state, local, and tribal governments, is responsible for enforcing the Clean Air Act.
The Clean Air Act has had a significant impact on reducing air pollution and improving air quality in the United States. Since 1990, there has been an approximate 50% decline in emissions of key air pollutants. The Act has also led to a 74% reduction in air toxics emissions from 1990 to 2017, thanks to the implementation of regulations by federal and state governments, as well as technological advancements.
The Clean Air Act has been instrumental in tackling various air pollution problems, such as acid rain, urban air pollution, toxic air emissions, and stratospheric ozone depletion. It has established programs like the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, which set limits on the concentrations of specific pollutants in outdoor air. The Act also addresses vehicle fuels, industrial facilities, and other technologies that impact air quality.
However, despite the progress made by the Clean Air Act, air pollution remains a pressing issue in the United States. Climate change, wildfires, heat waves, and droughts have complicated efforts to improve air quality. The American Lung Association's 2023 State of the Air report revealed that one in three Americans lives in a county with unhealthy air. This issue disproportionately affects people of color, who are more likely to reside in areas with failing grades for ozone or particulate matter levels.
The EPA continues to work towards improving air quality and protecting public health. The Clean Air Act provides flexibility to industries in reducing emissions while holding them accountable for achieving these reductions. The Act also involves stakeholders and the public in developing standards and implementation strategies. While challenges remain, the Clean Air Act has been a crucial tool in the fight for cleaner air in the United States.
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Frequently asked questions
It's complicated. While air quality has improved in some regions, it has deteriorated in others. Climate change, wildfires, heatwaves, and droughts are all contributing factors to the worsening air quality. According to a 2023 report, one in three Americans lives in a county with poor air quality.
Burning oil, gas, and coal, as well as emissions from vehicles and industrial sources, are major contributors to air pollution. Climate change is also playing a significant role by increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, heatwaves, and droughts, which further degrade air quality.
Air pollution has severe health consequences, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, worsened cognition, and increased risk of asthma and other allergic reactions. Fine particulate matter, which is generated from fossil fuel burning, can enter the lungs and bloodstream, causing a range of health problems and even premature deaths.
