More than 141 million people — are routinely exposed to dangerously polluted air, according to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air 2019” report. That’s over 7 million more people than the previous year’s report indicated. As climate change continues to cause record-breaking heat, ozone pollution — one of the least controlled and most dangerous pollutants — is getting worse.
Harmful to breathe, ozone is created when pollutants such as gases coming out of tailpipes and smokestacks come into contact with sunlight. Higher temperatures increase ozone formation and spark wildfires that spew more dangerous particles into the air — and these are the hottest cities in every state.
As one of the states with the highest average temperatures, it’s no surprise then that of the 25 most polluted metro areas in the United States, 11 are in California. 24/7 Tempo reviewed the 25 metropolitan areas with the highest levels of ozone pollution, also known as smog, from the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air 2019” report.
Because low-income neighborhoods tend to lie next to industrial districts, highways, and power plants, residents of these communities are often exposed to the highest levels of pollution. And these are the poorest counties in every state.
Individuals inhaling high levels of these particles are at considerably greater risk of adverse health outcomes. People suffering from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes, as well as the elderly and the very young, are at an even greater risk. Other health risks include difficulty breathing and cardiovascular-related illnesses.
