Nearly half of U.S. Children are breathing dangerous levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association’s 27th annual State of the Air report released on Wednesday. The report, based on quality-assured data collected between 2022 and 2024, found that 33.5 million children under 18 — 46% of that age group — live in areas that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution. 7 million children, or 10% of all children in the United States, reside in communities that failed all three pollution measures evaluated in the report.
The American Lung Association’s analysis evaluated ground-level ozone (smog), year-round particle pollution (soot), and short-term spikes in particle pollution across U.S. Counties. Communities were graded based on the presence and duration of these pollutants, with failing grades indicating unhealthy levels that pose health risks. The report highlights that children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution due to their developing lungs, higher air intake relative to body size, and increased time spent outdoors.
Will Barrett, assistant vice-president of the American Lung Association’s Nationwide Clean Air Policy, emphasized the long-term health implications for children exposed to polluted air. “Children’s lungs are still developing. For their body size, they’re breathing more air. And likewise, kids play outdoors, they’re more active, they’re breathing in more outdoor air. So, air pollution exposure in children can contribute to long-term developmental harm to their lungs, new cases of asthma, increased risks of respiratory illness and other health considerations later in life,” Barrett stated in an interview with The Guardian.
The report also reveals significant disparities in pollution exposure along racial and ethnic lines. While people of color build up 42.1% of the U.S. Population, they represent 54.2% of those living in counties with at least one failing grade for air quality. A person of color is 2.42 times more likely than a white person to live in a community that fails all three pollution measures. These findings underscore systemic inequities in environmental health burdens across the United States.
Smog remains the most widespread pollutant affecting Americans’ health. Between 2022 and 2024, 38% of the U.S. Population — approximately 129.1 million people — were exposed to ozone levels that put their health at risk. This figure represents the highest number recorded in the American Lung Association’s report in six years and marks a 3.9 million increase from the previous reporting period. The report attributes rising ozone levels to a combination of extreme heat, drought, wildfires, and climate change-driven atmospheric conditions that promote pollutant buildup.
Regions most affected by high ozone levels include southwestern states from California to Texas and much of the Midwest. The report identifies smoke from Canada’s 2023 wildfires crossing into the United States, combined with elevated temperatures and weather patterns favoring ozone formation in 2023 and 2024, as key contributors to poor air quality in these areas. More broadly, the analysis concludes that climate change is intensifying ozone pollution by increasing precursor emissions and creating conditions such as higher temperatures and lower wind speeds that allow pollutants to accumulate.
Another emerging concern highlighted in the report is the growing contribution of data centers to regional air pollution. The American Lung Association notes that many data centers rely on regional electricity grids where fossil fuels like methane gas and coal still constitute a significant portion of energy generation. Numerous facilities operate dozens of large diesel-powered backup generators, which emit carcinogenic particulate matter and contribute to localized pollution burdens, particularly in communities hosting these infrastructure projects.
The State of the Air report has been published annually by the American Lung Association for 27 consecutive years, using standardized methodology to track trends in air quality nationwide. This year’s edition covers the 2022–2024 period and builds upon previous findings to illustrate both progress and setbacks in clean air protections across different regions of the country. The full report is available through the American Lung Association’s official website, where users can access county-specific grades and detailed pollutant breakdowns.
As communities continue to grapple with the health impacts of air pollution, particularly among vulnerable populations like children and communities of color, the report underscores the ongoing require for science-based air quality regulations and investments in clean energy infrastructure. Future updates to the State of the Air report will reflect changes in pollution levels driven by policy decisions, technological shifts, and evolving climate patterns.
Stay informed about air quality developments in your area and consider sharing this report to help raise awareness about the importance of clean air for all.