Us Cities Choking On Poor Air Quality

Air pollution is a serious health threat in the United States, with millions of people, especially children, older adults, and those with lung diseases, being vulnerable to its effects. While the Clean Air Act and the efforts of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have improved air quality over the years, certain areas in the U.S. continue to experience poor air quality. This paragraph will explore which parts of the U.S. have the worst air quality and the factors contributing to this issue.

The impact of climate change

One of the key impacts of climate change on air quality is the increase in ground-level ozone. Ozone is a harmful pollutant that can irritate the eyes, nose, and lungs. It is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. Climate change, through atmospheric warming, can enhance the formation of ozone and make it more challenging to maintain air quality standards.

Particulate matter, such as windblown dust from droughts or smoke from wildfires, also contributes to poor air quality. Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of droughts and wildfires, leading to higher levels of particulate matter in the air. These fine particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system, causing or exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Additionally, climate change disproportionately affects socially vulnerable groups, including communities of color, low-income populations, Indigenous populations, and immigrant groups. These communities are more likely to live in industrial or urban areas with high levels of air pollution and have higher rates of heart disease, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. Climate-related changes in particulate matter are projected to increase childhood asthma rates, particularly among Black and African American individuals.

The impacts of climate change on air quality have economic consequences as well. Poor air quality can lead to increased healthcare costs, reduced productivity, and lost workdays. In contrast, improving air quality can create jobs, advance technologies, and generate revenue for the country. For example, in 2020, reductions in air pollution prevented more than 230,000 premature deaths, 200,000 heart attacks, 120,000 emergency room visits, and 17 million lost workdays in the United States.

The role of wildfires

The United States has seen significant improvements in air quality over the past 50 years, largely due to the Clean Air Act and the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, climate change has increased the risk of wildfires, which spread dangerous particle pollution and degrade air quality.

Wildfire smoke contains particle pollution, or particulate matter (PM), which is the main component and the principal public health threat. These particles are a mixture of solid and liquid droplets suspended in the air, and they come in various sizes and shapes due to their different sources. Some particles are so minuscule that they are only visible under an electron microscope. They can be composed of acids, inorganic compounds, organic chemicals, soot, metals, soil, or dust particles. The most common source of particle pollution is combustion-related activities, such as wildfires.

The short duration of wildfire events and the relatively small number of health events observed during them have made it challenging to study the health effects of wildfire smoke exposure directly. However, research has found that the health consequences of exposure to wildfire smoke are similar to those of exposure to particle pollution from other sources. For example, a 2021 study found that wildfire smoke is responsible for over 33,000 deaths annually across 43 countries, with many of these deaths occurring in cities far from the fires. Additionally, wildfire smoke can impact the weather; tiny particles released into the atmosphere can affect cloud formation and precipitation.

To better understand and address the impact of wildfires on air quality, scientists have employed various tools. For instance, researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) have utilized research aircraft equipped with precision instruments to collect measurements from wildfire plumes. They have also utilized satellite instruments such as Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITT), which measures carbon monoxide released by wildfires and has helped identify new seasonal patterns of pollution related to increasing fires in the Pacific Northwest.

The Clean Air Act

The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments revised Section 112 to require the issuance of technology-based standards for major sources and certain area sources. "Major sources" are defined as stationary sources or groups of stationary sources that emit or have the potential to emit 10 tons per year or more of a hazardous air pollutant, or 25 tons per year or more of a combination of hazardous air pollutants. For major sources, Section 112 requires that the EPA establish emission standards that require the maximum degree of reduction in emissions of hazardous air pollutants.

Despite the progress made by the Clean Air Act, air pollution in the United States continues to harm people's health and the environment. Millions of people are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases such as asthma and COPD. People of color and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by air pollution, as polluting facilities are often located in their neighbourhoods.

The impact on vulnerable communities

The impact of poor air quality falls disproportionately on vulnerable communities. People of colour and those with lower incomes are more likely to be affected by air pollution, which puts them at a higher risk of illness. This is due in part to the fact that major pollutant emitters, such as power plants, factories, and highways, are often placed in low-income neighbourhoods. Decision-makers know that these communities are unlikely to have the resources or political clout to oppose the siting of polluting facilities. As a result, nearly half of the people in the US live in areas where the air they breathe is of poor quality.

Low-income communities and communities of colour have long faced higher pollution levels and the worst health consequences of air pollution. A California study found that over a 30-year period, 245 toxic polluting facilities were deliberately placed in poor communities, particularly in neighbourhoods in Houston, Texas, and along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River in Louisiana known as "Cancer Alley."

Additionally, people of colour are more likely to live in areas with higher air pollution. A 2011 analysis found that non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics were more likely to live in counties with worse particle pollution and ozone pollution problems. A 2008 study of Washington, DC, found that while poor air quality and worsened asthma rates were correlated, the areas with the highest asthma attack rates did not always have the worst air pollution. This suggests that other factors, such as stress or underlying health conditions, may be contributing to the increased vulnerability of these communities.

Furthermore, low socioeconomic status has been linked to an increased risk of premature death from fine particle pollution. A study of 13.2 million Medicare recipients found that low socioeconomic status was a consistent factor in premature deaths related to particle pollution. Another study found that communities with higher African American populations had a greater risk of premature death from air pollution, even when controlling for income. This suggests that factors such as chronic stress due to discrimination may be playing a role in the increased vulnerability of these communities.

The impact of poor air quality on vulnerable communities is a serious health threat that needs to be addressed. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, harm lung development in children, and even lead to premature death. It is important for policymakers and researchers to continue working towards improving air quality and understanding the health risks associated with poor air quality to protect these vulnerable communities.

The worst-affected cities

Bakersfield, California, has been ranked as the worst city for year-round particle pollution for five years in a row. The city is surrounded by mountains that trap toxic farming chemicals, dust, truck and train fumes, and oil-drilling exhaust. The worst census tracts in Bakersfield showed up to 16 micrograms of fine particulate pollution per cubic meter—well above the threshold set by the EPA. Bakersfield is an industrial city known for agriculture, mining, and oil refineries.

Los Angeles, California, is infamous for its smog, which is mainly composed of ozone. The city's large fleet of delivery trucks has been a major source of pollution, and the demand for electricity has not decreased due to COVID-19.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, suffers from poor air quality due to the constant use of coal in power stations.

Birmingham, Alabama, is known for being one of the most racially divided cities in the nation. Black neighborhoods have been found to have significantly worse air quality than white areas just a few miles away. Birmingham has a long industrial history as an iron and steel hub, and the dirtiest industries are often located where property values are lowest and political power is weakest.

Yosemite Lakes, California, has been named the most polluted city in the US, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 107.

It is important to note that air quality data can change throughout the day and year, and that climate change-induced factors such as extreme heat, drought, and wildfires can negatively impact air quality and undermine emission reduction efforts.

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