Los Angeles has the worst ozone pollution in the nation, according to an annual report by the American Lung Association.
The area also received failing grades for high particulate matter.
The “State of the Air” report found that, nationally, nearly 4 in 10 people live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution, but cities in the western U.S. dominated the list.
California had the most metro areas on the list, with 10 of the 25 most polluted cities in the country, according to the report. After the Los Angeles metro area, the top ozone-polluted cities include Visalia, Bakersfield, and the Fresno area, followed by Phoenix, Arizona.
What is ozone?
Ozone is a gas found in the Earth’s atmosphere. High above us in the stratosphere, the ozone layer is beneficial, absorbing some of the sun’s harmful UV radiation and preventing it from reaching Earth’s surface.
But ozone pollution, which happens when emissions react under heat and sunlight, is harmful to our health. It produces ground-level ozone, also known as smog, which can damage the respiratory tract and lungs, resulting in symptoms such as coughing, chest tightness and worsening of asthma.
What causes ozone pollution?
Ozone forms near the ground when pollutants and some natural compounds react with sunlight, heat and wildfire smoke.
Air pollution emitted by transportation — including diesel trucks, trains, planes and cars — refineries and power plants were the main causes of ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association.
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