"The American Lung Association also found that minorities suffer from air pollution more than their White counterparts".
"People in western states are breathing dirtier, more polluted air — and worsening heat, drought and wildfires are fueling the pollution, according to a new report.
The report published by the American Lung Association on Wednesday points to widening divisions in exposure to unhealthy air. Nearly 120 million people across the United States, more than a third of the population, lived in counties that had unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution between 2019 and 2021, and many of them lived in the West.
“Climate change is impacting the East differently than the West,” said Katherine Pruitt, the lead author and editor of the report. “The heat and drought in the West are driving pollution.” That burden is also shared unequally, and communities of color continue to be disproportionately affected by high pollution levels, according to the report. More than 64 million people of color lived in counties with high air pollution exposure, more than half of all those living with unhealthy air."
Amudalat Ajasa reports for the Washington Post April 19, 2023.
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