Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Nearly Half Of Americans Breathing Unsafe Air, ALA Report Finds
ABC News: Almost Half Of Americans Breathing More Unhealthy Air Than Ever Before: Report
Almost half of Americans -- 137 million people -- are experiencing more days of "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" air quality than in the previous two decades combined, according to a report published this week by the American Lung Association. The annual "State of the Air" report looked at Americans' exposure to two types of air pollution: ozone, also known as "smog," and particle pollution, also known as "soot." It found that over 63 million Americans are now impacted by deadly particle pollution, an increase of nearly 9 million people from previous years. (Meltzer, 4/21)
The Hill: 137 Million In US Live With Unhealthy Levels Of Air Pollution: American Lung Association
More than 40 percent of the U.S. population — or 137 million people — are living in areas with unhealthy levels of particle pollution or ozone, according to the American Lung Association’s newest “State of the Air” report card. That’s 2.1 million people living in counties with unsafe air compared to last year’s report card — and 8.9 million more people impacted by daily spikes in potentially deadly particle pollution, the authors found. (Udasin, 4/21)
NPR: Wildfires Are Increasingly Contributing To Unhealthy Air
Despite decades of environmental efforts, over 40% of Americans — more than 137 million people — live in cities and states with poor air quality, a new report says. And, in addition to cars and factories, wildfires are increasingly contributing to unhealthy air. For the past 22 years, the American Lung Association has produced its annual State of the Air report, which analyzes the air quality on a local level for communities across the country. This year's study found that more Americans were exposed to unhealthy air, at times deemed hazardous, compared to previous years. (Jones, 4/21)
Also —
CIDRAP: Air Pollution May Raise Risk Of Positive COVID-19 Test
An observational JAMA Network Open study today involving young adults in Sweden suggests that short-term exposure to even relatively low levels of air pollution is tied to a higher risk of later testing positive for COVID-19, likely by worsening symptoms in those already infected. (Van Beusekom, 4/20)
