"Greater Los Angeles was ranked as the worst U.S. metro area for ozone pollution, with an average of 159.2 unhealthy ozone days a year. The region also ranked seventh worst nationally for annual particle pollution and seventh worst for short-term particle pollution."
"Los Angeles County received failing grades across all three categories measured in the report: ozone, short-term particle pollution, and annual particle pollution. Riverside and San Bernardino counties also failed all three measures."
"Ground-level ozone, often called 'smog,' is a corrosive gas that forms when pollution from vehicles and other sources reacts in heat and sunlight. It can irritate the lungs and trigger serious breathing problems."
The 2026 State of the Air report indicates that Los Angeles remains the most ozone-polluted metro area in the U.S. for the 26th time in 27 years. Southern California faces significant air quality challenges, with 82% of California residents living in counties with unhealthy air. The report shows Los Angeles-Long Beach has an average of 159.2 unhealthy ozone days annually. Federal EPA rollbacks could exacerbate these issues, potentially leading to over 14,000 deaths and $145 billion in health impacts by 2050.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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