American Lung Association releases 2024 State of the Air report: Here’s how Southern California fared
The American Lung Association has released their 2024 State of the Air report, and while progress has been made in cleaning up air pollution nationwide, data suggests nearly four out of 10 Americans still live in places with unhealthy air.
According to the ALA’s report, their 25th, more than 131 million Americans reside in locations with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, which equates to 11.7 million more people than the 2023 report.
Pro-Palestinian protesters, police scuffle on USC campus
For the Golden State, the 2024 report indicates that 48 of California’s 58 counties report data on days with high ozone levels. Of the 48 counties with data, 29 of them were given an “F” grade, including every county in Southern California.
A list of the Southern California counties that experienced the most days with high ozone levels can be viewed in the table below:
County | Weighted avg. of | Orange days | Red days | Purple days |
San Bernardino | 175.2 | 195 | 175 | 34 |
Riverside | 128 | 229 | 90 | 10 |
Los Angeles | 114.8 | 182 | 87 | 16 |
San Diego | 25.2 | 68 | 5 | 0 |
Orange | 18.3 | 36 | 10 | 2 |
Imperial | 15.2 | 41 | 3 | 0 |
Ventura | 14.5 | 39 | 3 | 0 |
As for particle pollution, 45 of the 58 Golden State counties report data. Southern California counties still fared poorly; Ventura was the only county to not receive an “F” grade for particle pollution – they received a “D.”
Reggie Bush to have 2005 Heisman Trophy returned
A list of the Southern California counties with the highest particle pollution can be viewed in the table below:
County | Weighted avg. of days | Orange days | Red days | Purple days |
Los Angeles | 20.7 | 42 | 12 | 1 |
Riverside | 16.3 | 34 | 10 | 0 |
San Bernardino | 15 | 33 | 8 | 0 |
San Diego | 10 | 15 | 10 | 0 |
Orange | 7.7 | 20 | 2 | 0 |
Imperial | 7 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
Ventura | 2.7 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
When broken down by city, California is home to several of most America’s most polluted municipalities when ranked by ozone levels, year-round particle pollution or by short-term particle pollution.
Kid Cudi cancels world tour after breaking heel during Coachella set
Overall, ALA data suggests that Visalia and Bakersfield have some of the lowest air quality in the nation.
City | Rank by ozone | Rank by year-round | Rank by short-term |
Bakersfield | #3 | #1 | #1 |
Fresno-Madera-Hanford | #4 | #3 | #2 |
Los Angeles-Long Beach | #1 | #6 | #11 |
Sacramento-Roseville | #7 | #7 | #9 |
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | #8 | N/A | #18 |
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | #12 | #5 | #7 |
Visalia | #2 | #2 | #5 |
The American Lung Association attributes the increase of unhealthy air quality across the U.S. to “a combination of factors” that can have many health impacts.
Twerking vandals cause $25K in damage to Southern California business
“Extreme heat, drought and wildfires are contributing to a steady increase in deadly particle pollution, especially in the western United States,” the ALA’s State of the Air report said. “Again, this year [the report] finds that the burden of living with unhealthy air is not shared equally…although people of color make up 41.6% of the overall population of the U.S., they are 52% of the people living in a county with at least one failing grade.”
The full American Lung Association State of the Air report for 2024 can be read here.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
