WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Lung Association’s 2023 “State of the Air” report highlights the urgent need to address the fact that 36 percent of people in the United States live in communities with dangerous levels of particulate, ozone, and other air pollution. The National Wildlife Federation urged federal, state, and local leaders to work to address this persistent and pernicious threat facing people and wildlife alike — and to prioritize addressing the challenges facing frontline and fenceline communities.

“Access to clean air should not be a privilege, and the fact that 36 percent of people in the United States are struggling to breathe is a clarion call for action,” said Mustafa Santiago Ali, executive vice president of the National Wildlife Federation. “The 2023 ‘State of the Air’ report underscores that we still have an immense amount of work to do to ensure that people and wildlife — and particularly communities of color — are not inhaling dangerous particulates and pollution. The Biden Administration and Congress should heed this landmark report and use every tool available to reduce toxic emissions and address dangerous ozone and particulate pollution.”

According to the report, the “people of color were 64% more likely than white people to live in a county with a failing grade for at least one measure, and 3.7 times as likely to live in a county with a failing grade for all three measures.”