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American Lung Association: Nearly Half of U.S. Children Are Breathing Dangerous Air Pollution

HeadlineApr 23, 2026

A new report warns nearly half of all children across the United States are regularly exposed to dangerously high levels of toxic air pollution. The annual “State of the Air” report by the American Lung Association, released on Earth Day, found more than 33 million children live in counties that received a failing grade on at least one of the ALA’s measures of air pollution; meanwhile, nearly 130 million people across the U.S. were exposed to dangerous levels of ozone, with communities of color disproportionately affected. 

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