American Lung Association report found that about 156 million people live in counties plagued by high levels of ozone and fine particulate matter

The 2025 "State of the Air" report from the American Lung Association reveals that nearly half of all Americans are exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, with worsening smog, wildfire smoke and extreme heat pushing cities like Bakersfield and Los Angeles to the top of the list for worst air quality.

Despite improvements in air quality in past decades, 156 million Americans still breathe in too much soot or ozone, says the annual State of the Air report from the American Lung Association.