More Americans are exposed to polluted air in the United States. See where.

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: More than 150 million people in the United States are exposed to unhealthy air, including 33.5 million children, according to a new report by the American Lung Association

🔭 The context: The report highlights worsening air quality driven by wildfires, extreme heat, and regulatory rollbacks
• Pollution from ozone (smog) and fine particles continues to affect major urban and industrial areas, with hotspots in states like California and Texas
• Despite decades of progress since the Clean Air Act, climate change is reversing gains

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Air pollution and climate change are deeply linked
• Rising temperatures and wildfires increase harmful emissions, creating a feedback loop where climate change worsens air quality, which in turn harms ecosystems and public health
• Reducing fossil fuel use and emissions is critical to breaking this cycle

⏭️ What’s next: Experts warn that without stronger environmental protections and climate action, air quality could continue to deteriorate
• Future data may reflect the impact of recent regulatory changes, potentially putting decades of progress at risk

💬 One quote: “Clean air is not something we can take for granted. It takes work.” — Harold Wimmer

📈 One stat: Nearly half of all U.S. children live in areas that fail at least one air quality standard

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