Several areas in California have been identified as having the worst air quality in the US, according to a report released earlier this year by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
The report, part of the institute’s 2023 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps initiative, aimed to raise awareness about the various factors that can impact health outcomes and disparities across the nation. Included among these factors is the physical environment of communities, encompassing aspects such as air quality.
Air quality was determined based on data from air pollution monitors and modeled estimates, which included information from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality System. In areas lacking sufficient air quality monitoring, models were used to estimate air pollution levels.
One key pollutant assessed was PM2.5, fine particulate matter comprising particles 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter. Often originating from the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, or wood, PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing tissue damage, lung inflammation, and a host of health issues.
On a state level, Georgia was found to have the worst PM2.5 pollution, followed by Alabama and Mississippi. However, when it comes to counties, San Bernardino County in California had the highest daily average PM2.5, followed closely by Alaska’s Fairbanks North Star Borough.
Other Californian counties with poor air quality include San Diego, Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare, and Riverside. On the other end of the scale, Montana’s Gallatin County had the lowest daily average PM2.5.
These findings are estimates, and air quality can change frequently and vary within a county and by season. Current air quality in specific areas can be checked on the EPA’s website.
The American Lung Association, in its 2023 State of the Air report, estimated that over one-third of Americans are exposed to potentially life-shortening air pollution, with about 119.6 million Americans living in areas with failing grades for particle or ozone pollution.