04/28/2026
More than 150 million people across the United States, including nearly half the nation’s children, live in areas affected by harmful levels of air pollution, according to a new report published Wednesday. (April 22,2026)
Fine particulate-matter pollution is typically caused by factories and refineries, wildfires, coal-fired power plants, diesel engines and other emissions. Exposure can trigger minor effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, and more severe consequences such as heart attacks and lung problems, as well as premature death.
An estimated 33.5 million children in the United States — or nearly half of people under 18 — live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution.
