A new report highlights that while air quality in the U.S. has improved significantly over the decades due to regulations like the Clean Air Act, nearly 156 million Americans still face health risks from unhealthy air pollution. The report emphasizes that air pollution contributes to shorter life expectancy and higher asthma rates, especially in communities of color. As federal agencies consider rolling back existing regulations, the future of air quality remains uncertain, particularly in urban areas like Los Angeles and Fresno that experience the highest pollution levels.
"Both these types of pollution cause people to die. They shorten life expectancy and drive increases in asthma rates," says Mary Rice, a pulmonologist at Harvard University.
The report, now in its 26th year, comes as the Trump administration pushes federal agencies to reconsider many of the regulations that have resulted in cleaner air in recent decades.
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