Air quality in the United States is getting worse and worse, and not even the improvement due to the confinement we suffered in 2020 could contribute. However, we are now seeing how climate change has turned the tide and is making it worse at a much faster rate. Along these lines, the World Health Organization (WHO) has just issued a disturbing statement.
WHO looks at air quality: it has bad news for the world at large, and you should be concerned
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released a comprehensive report analyzing air quality across the United States. The findings provide cause for concern, as the US failed to meet WHO guidelines for key air pollutants. This has major implications for public health, as you probably know.
The report offers a sobering look at the state of air quality across America. It highlights which cities and regions have the worst air pollution problems, along with identifying the primary sources of harmful emissions. The data shows significant disparities based on geographic location and demographics.
Overall, the WHO report underscores the need for more aggressive policies and actions to curb air pollution in the US. The health risks are too great to ignore. Tighter regulations, shifting energy production away from fossil fuels, advancing clean technologies, and monitoring pollution more closely will all be part of improving air.
The United States, one of the worst performing countries in this WHO analysis
According to the WHO’s latest air quality database, the US ranks poorly among other high-income countries when it comes to air pollution levels. The report analyzed air quality data from over 6,000 cities and towns across 117 countries, incluiding all in the Americas.
Specifically, the US ranked 10th worst out of the 13 high-income countries analyzed. Only Australia, Canada, and Singapore performed worse than the US overall. The less industrialized countries, on the other hand, are those with moderately normal air quality.
The report found that no region in the US met the WHO’s air quality guidelines in 2021. The annual average PM2.5 concentration across US cities was nearly 2.5 times higher than the recommended level. Furthermore, ozone pollution also exceeded recommended limits across the vast majority of US cities.
These findings highlight the significant air quality challenges facing many communities across the United States. Poor air quality contributes to negative health impacts and reduced life expectancy. The WHO report underscores the need for continued efforts to reduce harmful air pollutants in the US.
Air quality in the U.S. is getting worse: here’s what’s happening
The WHO report analyzed air quality data across the United States and found significant regional differences. The worst air quality was concentrated in western states like California, which suffers from high levels of ozone pollution due to emissions from vehicles and industry.
Southern states along the Gulf of Mexico, like Louisiana and Texas, were plagued by high ozone levels as a result of emissions from oil refineries and chemical plants. Meanwhile, northeastern states experienced elevated rates of fine particle pollution stemming from dense urban areas and colder climates that trap emissions.
On the other end of the spectrum, northern states like North Dakota and Montana enjoyed the cleanest air quality thanks to lower population density and fewer industrial sources of pollution. Mountainous states in the West also fared well due to their high elevation and distance from major urban centers.
As you have seen, air quality in the United States is not only of concern because of what it means for our country, but also because of the serious effect it will have on the health of millions of people. This is a circumstance that we used to attribute only to China but that, at present, we are also experiencing in our country, and there is no hope that it will be solved in the short term.