San Bernardino, Riverside and Los Angeles have the worst ozone pollution in the nation, according to an annual report by the American Lung Association.
The large metropolitan statistical areas also include Long Beach and Anaheim. The areas also received failing grades for high particulate matter.
Ozone is a gas that is found in the earth’s atmosphere. High above us, it is beneficial, but ozone pollution, which happens when emissions react under heat and sunlight, is very harmful to people’s health. Ozone can damage the respiratory tract and lungs, resulting in symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness and worsening of asthma symptoms.
The “State of the Air” report showed the number of days of “very unhealthy” or “hazardous” air in Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area improved compared to last year’s report, but Los Angeles-Long Beach still ranks as the most ozone polluted metro area in the U.S.
More than 15 million people live in the combined statistical areas, but some people are more vulnerable to illness and death from their exposure.
In San Bernardino, the air quality was “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or worse for almost half the year.
“Even one poor air quality day is one too many for children, older adults, people with chronic illness, lower-income residents and people of color. Policymakers at the local, state and federal levels must act to ensure that everyone has clean air to breathe, and no community is left behind,” said Mariela Ruacho, Clean Air Advocacy Manager for the Lung Association.
The report measured air quality between 2019 and 2021, which it noted were among the seven hottest years on record globally.
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