California metropolitan areas like the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Bakersfield continue to persevere as some of the nation's most air polluted cities, according to a new report from the American Lung Association.
Nine out of 10 Californians live in an area affected by harmful air pollutants, according to Wednesday's 2023 State of the Air report.
In years prior, the report's findings have reflected the success of the federal Clean Air Act, noting significant pollution reductions in the industrial and transportation sectors. Between the years of 2019 to 2021, nearly 32 million people across 10 states endured days where Air Quality Index levels of particulate matter were 106 parts per billion or higher, which are levels that increase the health risks of everyone, regardless of pre-existing conditions, according to the report. Researchers note that this is a"worrisome sign of a trend" that is likely to continue if wildfire conditions worsen.
Overall, air quality has improved across the nation: 17.6 million fewer people live in unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution levels than last year's report. "I know when I see those hazy smog days that my phone is going to start ringing in the office because my patients with asthma are going to start having trouble, through no fault of their own," Patel said."They cannot avoid the unhealthy air, I have seen these effects firsthand."
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