Many people and organizations contributed to the preparation of this report. Learn more about their contributions at Acknowledgments.
Statistical Methodology: The Air Quality Data
To compile the "State of the Air" report each year, the American Lung Association relies on publicly available, quality-assured data from monitors operated by the states, counties, federal agencies and tribes across the nation. This year's report examines monitoring data collected during 2016, 2017, and 2018. Information below explains how those data were collected and used in this report.
Description of County Grading System
Calculations of Populations-at-Risk
Presently county-specific measurements of the number of persons with chronic conditions are not generally available. To assess the magnitude of chronic conditions at the state and county levels, we have employed a synthetic estimation technique originally developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. This method uses age-specific national and state estimates of self-reported conditions to project disease prevalence to the county level. The exception to this is poverty, for which estimates are available at the county level.
Acknowledgments
The American Lung Association “State of the Air® 2020” is the result of the hard work of many people:
To produce the national report: Deb Brown, who leads the Mission Team; Paul G. Billings, who supervised the work; Janice E. Nolen, M.A., who directed the project, analyzed data, wrote the text, and coordinated print and web presentations; Kevin M. Stewart, who assisted in the data analysis, writing and coordination of the report content and metro area assessments; Laura Kate Bender, Diana Van Vleet, and Liz Mueller, who integrated the Healthy Air Campaign with this report; Will Barrett, who compiled material for metro area assessments; Zach Jump, M.A., who converted the raw data into meaningful tables and comparisons and calculated all the population data; Susan Rappaport, M.P.H., who supervised the data analysis; John Balmes, M.D., who reviewed the science and health discussions; Neil Ballentine, who directed the online presentation; Todd Nimirowski, who designed and created the user experiences online; Lauren Innocenzi and Shanna Johnson, who managed content production online; Laura Lavelle, Carrie Emge and Elexis Rodgers who developed the social sharing and digital engagement strategy; Julia Fitzgerald, Kim Lacina, Allison MacMunn, Stephanie Goldina, Gregg Tubbs, and Erin Meyer who coordinated internal and external communications and media outreach; Michael Albiero, who designed the logo and report cover; and Craig Finstad, who coordinated sharing the data with direct mail donors.
For state-level outreach: Michael Seilback and Lance Boucher coordinated work with the state staff across the nation. Staff contacted state and local air directors to ensure that they were informed and had a chance to review the draft data.
Outside the American Lung Association: Allen S. Lefohn of A.S.L. and Associates, who compiled the data; Beaconfire RED Consulting, who uploaded the data to the website; and Our Designs, Inc., who designed the print version.
Great appreciation goes to the National Association of Clean Air Agencies who strove to make this report better through their comments, review and concerns. Many of their members reviewed and commented on the individual state data presented and the methodology to make this report more accurate. We also appreciate the assistance of the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies, whose members also assisted in the review of the data from their states. We appreciate them as our partners in the fight against air pollution. This report should in no way be construed as a comment on the work any of these agencies do.
The American Lung Association assumes sole responsibility for the content of the American Lung Association “State of the Air® 2020.”
Did You Know?
- Nearly 5 out of 10 people live where the air they breathe earned an F in State of the Air 2020.
- 150 million people live in counties that received an F for either ozone or particle pollution in State of the Air 2020.
- More than 20.8 million people live in counties that got an F for all three air pollution measures in State of the Air 2020.
- Breathing ozone irritates the lungs, resulting in something like a bad sunburn within the lungs.
- Breathing in particle pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer, according to the World Health Organization.
- Particle pollution can also cause early death and heart attacks, strokes and emergency room visits for people with asthma and cardiovascular disease.
- Particles are smaller than 1/30th the diameter of a human hair. When you inhale them, they are small enough to get past the body's natural defenses.
- Ozone and particle pollution are both linked to increased risk of lower birth weight in newborns.
- Do you live near, or work on or near a busy highway? Pollution from the traffic may put you at greater risk of harm.
- People who work or exercise outside face increased risk from the effects of air pollution.
- Millions of people are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution, including infants, older adults and people with lung diseases like asthma.
- People of color and those earning lower incomes are often disproportionately affected by air pollution that put them at higher risk for illnesses.
- Air pollution is a serious health threat. It can trigger asthma attacks, harm lung development in children, and can even be deadly.
- You can protect your family by checking the air quality forecasts in your community and avoiding exercising or working outdoors when the unhealthy air is expected.
- Climate change enhances conditions for ozone to form and makes it harder to keep ozone from forming.
- Climate change increases the risk of wildfires that spread particle pollution and ozone in the smoke.
- This Administration is trying to roll back or create loopholes in core healthy air protections under the Clean Air Act. The Lung Association opposes these actions that will add pollution to the air we breathe.
- Cutting air pollution through the Clean Air Act will prevent at least 230,000 deaths and save $2 trillion annually by 2020.