Disparities in Air Quality Exposure Highlighted in American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report – Dallas Weekly

Disparities in Air Quality Across the United States

By Stacy M. Brown
Originally appeared in NNPA

The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” Report

The American Lung Association’s 25th annual “State of the Air” report has revealed significant disparities in air quality across the United States, with a disproportionate impact on people of color, low-income communities, children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions.

People of Color Disproportionately Affected

Despite comprising 41.6% of the U.S. population, people of color represent 52% of those living in counties with at least one failing grade for air quality. In counties with the poorest air quality, where failing grades are given for all three measures of air pollution, 63% of the nearly 44 million residents are people of color, compared to 37% white.

Most Polluted Cities

1. Bakersfield, Calif.
2. Fresno-Madera-Hanford (Calif.)
3. Fairbanks, AK
4. Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
5. Visalia, Calif.

The top five cities most polluted by short-term particle pollution are Bakersfield, Calif.; Fresno-Madera-Hanford (Calif.); Fairbanks, AK; Eugene-Springfield, Oregon; and Visalia, Calif. The California cities of San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland also rank among the most heavily polluted by year-round particle pollution. The report’s authors note that ground-level ozone pollution is a powerful respiratory irritant whose effects have been likened to a sunburn of the lungs. Inhaling ozone can cause shortness of breath, trigger coughing and asthma attacks, and may shorten life. They also highlight that warmer temperatures driven by climate change make ozone more likely to form and harder to clean up. The top five cities most affected by ozone pollution are the Los Angeles-Long Beach area; Visalia, Bakersfield, the Fresno-Madera-Hanford area, and the Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona area.

Cleanest Cities

1. Bangor, Maine
2. Johnson City-Kingsport-Briston, Tennessee and Virginia area
3. Lincoln-Beatrice, Nebraska area
4. Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
5. Wilmington, North Carolina

The report also recognizes the nation’s cleanest cities. To make the cleanest list for all three measures, a city must experience no high ozone or particle pollution days and rank among the 25 cities with the lowest year-round particle pollution levels.

Disparities in Air Quality Exposure

• Approximately 68.9 million people of color live in counties that received at least one failing grade for ozone and/or particle pollution.
• Over 27.5 million people of color reside in counties with failing grades on all three measures, including about 16.8 million Hispanics.
• 16 million people living in poverty are in counties that received a failing grade for at least one pollutant, with more than 5.4 million in counties failing all three measures.
• More than 29.2 million children under 18 and 20.6 million adults aged 65 and over live in counties with at least one failing grade for pollution.
• More than 9.7 million children and 6.7 million seniors reside in counties failing all three measures.

Impact on Vulnerable Populations

• Over 1.9 million children and nearly 9.8 million adults with asthma live in counties with at least one failing grade for pollution.
• More than 600,000 children and 3.1 million adults with asthma reside in counties failing all three measures.
• About 6.0 million people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) live in counties with at least one failing grade for pollution, including over 1.7 million in counties failing all three measures.

Association with COVID-19

The report also underscores the association between exposure to air pollution and increased risks of severe illness and death from COVID-19. A 2022 study in California found that residents in the most polluted areas had a 20% higher risk of COVID-19 infection and a 51% higher risk of death than those in the least polluted areas.

Systemic Racism and Environmental Justice

The authors note that these disparities in air quality exposure can be traced back to systemic racism in the U.S., including practices like redlining and institutionalized residential segregation. Historically, decision-makers have placed pollution sources, such as power plants and industrial facilities, in economically disadvantaged communities of color, contributing to high rates of emergency department visits for asthma and other diseases. People of color are also more likely to live with chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes, making them more susceptible to the health impacts of air pollution. Addressing these disparities requires comprehensive efforts to improve air quality, promote environmental justice, and protect the health of vulnerable communities.

Sustainable Development Goals

The findings of the “State of the Air” report align with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
4. SDG 13: Climate Action

“We have seen impressive progress in cleaning up air pollution over the last 25 years, thanks in large part to the Clean Air Act. However, when we started this report, our team never imagined that 25 years in the future, more than 130 million people would still be breathing unhealthy air,” said Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association.

The authors conclude that more needs to be done to ensure everyone has clean air and address the intersectionality of air pollution, systemic racism, and public health.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:

• SDG 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• SDG 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress towards the Identified Targets:

• Number and percentage of people of color living in counties with failing grades for air quality.
• Number and percentage of people living in counties with failing grades on all three measures of air pollution.
• Number and percentage of children and older adults living in counties with failing grades for pollution.
• Number and percentage of people with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) living in counties with failing grades for pollution.
• Number and percentage of people at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and death due to exposure to air pollution.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: dallasweekly.com

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