Meghan Hodges
Air pollution in the United States is a pressing issue, with almost half of Americans exposed to unsafe levels of air pollutants. While there has been progress in reducing air pollution since the 1970s, climate change, wildfires, and policy rollbacks threaten these gains. The distribution of air pollution's health effects is unequal, with people of color, particularly Latino and African Americans, experiencing higher rates of pollution-related illnesses and premature death. Americans' understanding of the health impacts of air pollution is limited, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces challenges due to funding and staffing cuts. This topic explores Americans' perspectives on the issue of air pollution, its impact on their lives, and their awareness of the associated health risks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Americans' understanding of health problems caused by air pollution | Unable to name specific health problems caused by air pollution. Unaware of the full array of health problems caused by air pollution. Unable to identify groups more vulnerable to air pollution. |
| Americans' understanding of neurological health problems caused by air pollution | Only 1% of participants cited neurological health problems. |
| Americans' view on whether air pollution harms health | 73% believe air pollution harms health, 9% answered "no," and 17% answered "don't know." |
| Americans living in places with unhealthy air quality | 46% (156 million people) live in areas with unhealthy air quality, according to the American Lung Association. |
| Racial disparities in air pollution exposure | People of color, especially Latino Americans, are more likely to live in neighborhoods with unhealthy levels of air pollution. |
| Impact of air pollution on health | Premature death, cancer, respiratory problems, asthma, heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, cognitive impairments, infections, behavioral changes, organ failure, and other diseases. |
| Progress in reducing air pollution | Dramatic progress since 1970, but air pollution continues to harm health and the environment. Visible air pollution is less frequent, but invisible pollutants can still cause harm. |
| Clean Power Plan | Announced in 2015 to reduce carbon pollution from power plants and address climate change. |
| Environmental regulation rollbacks | The Trump administration has prioritized dismantling environmental regulations, including cuts to the EPA, which threaten progress in reducing air pollution. |
| Impact of climate change | Climate change, including extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, is worsening air pollution and making it harder to maintain air quality standards. |
| Geographic distribution of air pollution | Shifting back east, with central and eastern states experiencing increased ozone and particle pollution due to wildfires in Canada. |
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What You'll Learn
Americans' understanding of health issues caused by air pollution
Air pollution in the United States continues to harm people's health and the environment. While there has been dramatic progress in cleaning the air since 1970, new scientific studies have shown that some pollutants can harm public health and welfare even at very low levels.
A survey conducted in December 2018 by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication found that 73% of Americans believe that air pollution from the use of fossil fuels harms the health of Americans. However, many Americans are unable to name specific health problems caused by air pollution from fossil fuels. Only 55% of participants in the survey named at least one health problem, with non-specific references to respiratory problems being the most frequently mentioned (35%), followed by asthma (20%), and non-specific references to cancer (14%).
The findings indicate that Americans are particularly unaware of neurological health problems caused by exposure to air pollution from fossil fuels, with only 1% of participants citing these issues. Additionally, many Americans are unaware that some groups are more vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution than others. People of color, particularly Latino Americans, are more likely to live in neighborhoods with unhealthy levels of air pollution and are, therefore, more susceptible to the health issues caused by air pollution.
Health problems attributed to air pollution include premature death, cancer, organ failure, infections, behavioral changes, and other diseases. Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, preterm births, impaired cognitive functioning, and lung cancer. Additionally, air pollution can lead to infections in the pulmonary system, with bacterial pneumonia being more prevalent among African Americans.
While the Clean Air Act and the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have helped reduce air pollution, recent rollbacks of environmental regulations and funding cuts threaten to undermine this progress. The changing climate, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are also contributing to worsening air quality and making it more challenging to protect public health.
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Air pollution's impact on the environment
Air pollution has a significant impact on both the environment and human health. It is caused by various sources, including transportation, power plants, and manufacturing, and the use of fossil fuels. While there has been progress in reducing visible air pollution since the 1970s, certain pollutants can still harm public health and the environment even at low levels.
One of the key environmental impacts of air pollution is its contribution to climate change. Pollutants such as methane and black carbon, a component of fine particulate matter, have a high global warming potential. These short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) can lead to both climate change and adverse health effects. Black carbon, in particular, is one of the largest contributors to global warming after carbon dioxide (CO2). By reducing ambient and household air pollution, emissions of CO2 and SLCPs can be lowered, helping to mitigate climate change.
Fine particle pollution, or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), is another significant pollutant. It can cause harm even across state lines due to its ability to travel long distances. PM2.5 has been linked to premature death and adverse effects on cardiovascular health, including increased hospital admissions for heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, it impairs visibility and causes environmental damage. Ozone (O3) is another pollutant that can increase the frequency of asthma attacks, cause shortness of breath, aggravate lung diseases, and lead to permanent lung damage through prolonged exposure. Elevated ozone levels are associated with increased hospitalizations and premature deaths.
In the United States, air pollution continues to pose challenges despite the efforts of the Clean Air Act and the Clean Power Plan. The "State of the Air" 2025 report found that 46% of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, impacting nearly half of the country's population. Climate change, including extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, is exacerbating the problem, making it harder to maintain air quality standards. These issues highlight the necessity of continued action to reduce air pollution and protect public health and the environment.
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The Clean Power Plan and its role in reducing carbon pollution
Americans are concerned about air pollution and its impact on health. A survey conducted in December 2018 found that 73% of respondents believed that air pollution from fossil fuels harms the health of Americans. However, many Americans are unaware of the specific health risks associated with air pollution, such as neurological health problems, diabetes, kidney disease, and bone weakening.
The Clean Power Plan (CPP), announced by President Obama and the EPA in August 2015, is a significant step in addressing these concerns by reducing carbon pollution from power plants, the nation's largest source of carbon emissions. The CPP aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions from US power plants, with customized goals for each state to reduce carbon pollution and drive investment in clean energy technologies.
The CPP offers flexibility to states in selecting measures to achieve their CO2 emission performance rates and determining their emissions reduction pathways. States can choose from various options, including investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency, natural gas, and nuclear power, and moving away from coal-fired power. This flexibility allows states to reduce costs, minimize stranded assets, and spur private investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
The CPP is designed to be fair and achievable, reflecting each state's energy mix while providing national consistency and accountability. It is expected to contribute significantly to pollution reduction, improving public health and addressing climate change. By 2030, when the CPP is fully implemented, carbon pollution from the power sector is projected to be 32% below 2005 levels, reducing dangerous pollution to historically low levels.
The CPP also addresses concerns about the impact of the transition to cleaner energy sources on economic activity indicators such as real gross domestic product (GDP), industrial shipments, and consumption. While there may be some relative reductions in these indicators, implementing the CPP under high economic growth or high oil and gas resources baselines can ameliorate the impacts on GDP and disposable income.
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The Clean Air Act and its role in reducing air pollution
The Clean Air Act (CAA) is a comprehensive federal law that gives the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate air pollutants and polluting industries. The Act was first introduced in 1970 and has since been amended in 1977, 1990, and 2022 to address emerging pollution threats and reduce air pollution across the United States.
The Clean Air Act plays a crucial role in reducing air pollution by setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that specify safe levels of pollution over different periods. These standards are based on the latest scientific knowledge and are designed to protect public health and welfare. The Act also establishes health-based air quality standards and emissions standards for sources based on available technologies. The EPA is responsible for regulating and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as emissions from cars and power plants, to combat climate change.
One of the key goals of the Clean Air Act is to achieve NAAQS in every state. To accomplish this, the Act directs states to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) applicable to industrial sources to achieve the established standards. The Act also includes provisions to protect areas with clean air and address areas that are not meeting clean air standards. For example, the 1990 amendments established a national permits program and implemented the Montreal Protocol to phase out chemicals depleting the ozone layer.
The Clean Air Act has been successful in reducing air pollution over the past few decades. Visible air pollution is less frequent and widespread than it was in the 1970s, and emissions from transportation, power plants, and manufacturing have decreased over time. However, air pollution continues to harm people's health and the environment, and extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are contributing to worsening air quality. Despite these challenges, the Clean Air Act remains a critical tool in the ongoing effort to improve air quality and protect public health in the United States.
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The impact of climate change on air quality
Climate change can impact air quality, and poor air quality can, in turn, impact climate change. Changes in climate can affect local air quality, and atmospheric warming associated with climate change can increase ground-level ozone in many regions. Climate-driven changes in weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, are expected to increase ground-level ozone and
The impact of climate change on other air pollutants, such as particulate matter, is less certain, but research is underway to address these uncertainties. For example, the EPA is conducting research to understand the relationships between climate change and air quality by advancing the understanding of temperature changes on ozone and particulate matter concentrations.
Climate change can affect air quality at both local and regional scales. In the United States, nearly 102 million people lived in areas with poor air quality in 2021. Climate-driven changes in weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, are expected to increase ground-level ozone and particulate matter in many regions.
Extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are contributing to worsening levels of air pollution across much of the United States, exposing a growing proportion of the population to ozone and particle pollution that put their health at risk. The geographic distribution of air pollution is also shifting, with the 2025 "State of the Air" report finding improved conditions on the west coast but a deadly heat wave in Texas and an unprecedented blanket of smoke from wildfires in Canada that drove levels of ozone and particle pollution in dozens of central and eastern states higher than they have been in many years.
To reduce the impacts of climate change on air quality, various measures can be taken, such as transitioning to renewable energy sources, reducing air pollution from vehicles, and improving air quality at ports.
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Frequently asked questions
According to a 2018 survey, 73% of Americans believe that air pollution from the use of fossil fuels harms the health of Americans. However, many Americans are unaware of the specific health risks associated with air pollution and the fact that some groups are more vulnerable to its effects.
Health problems attributed to air pollution include respiratory issues, asthma, cancer, premature death, organ failure, infections, behavioural changes, and other diseases.
No. Air pollution disproportionately impacts certain demographic groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-socioeconomic status individuals, and those with lower educational attainment. People of colour, particularly Latino Americans, are more likely to live in areas with higher levels of air pollution and experience higher rates of health issues such as bacterial pneumonia and cancer.
Efforts to address air pollution in the US include the Clean Power Plan announced by President Obama and the EPA in 2015, which aims to reduce carbon pollution from power plants. The Clean Air Act, passed in 1963 and updated periodically, also sets standards for reducing air pollution and protecting public health. However, recent rollbacks of environmental regulations and funding cuts to the EPA may hinder progress.
Challenges include increasing wildfire smoke, which contributes to fine particle pollution and ozone pollution, as well as policy changes that prioritise economic interests over environmental protection. Climate change is also making it harder to maintain air quality improvements, with extreme heat, drought, and wildfires worsening air pollution across the country.
