New data from American Lung Association shows Los Angeles air pollution in 2026 ozone levels worsening, where Latino communities face higher asthma rates and long-term health risks
In the State of the Air 2026 report, the metropolitan areas ranking worst in the country for two of the three major pollutant measures remain unchanged from last year. Bakersfield continues to record the highest levels of year-round particle pollution for the seventh consecutive year. However, its short-term particle pollution improved enough that it no longer holds the worst spot; that distinction now belongs to Fairbanks.
Ozone pollution in Los Angeles worsened compared to last year, once again making it the city with the highest ozone levels in the nation. It has held this position in 26 of the 27 years covered by the State of the Air report.
Latinos in Los Angeles are disproportionately affected by air pollution due to a combination of geographic, economic, and historical urban planning factors. A study by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute found that communities of color face a “triple burden” of extreme heat, pollution, and health disparities. Residents of predominantly Latino neighborhoods experience twice as many emergency room visits for asthma compared to residents of non-Latino white neighborhoods.
The State of the Air 2026 report also reveals that, despite decades of progress in reducing pollution sources, 44% of Americans—approximately 152.3 million people—still live in areas that receive failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Nearly half of all children in the United States (46%, or 33.5 million under age 18) live in counties that failed at least one air quality measure. Ten percent of children (7.3 million) live in counties that failed all three.
Infants, children, and teenagers are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. Their lungs are still developing, they breathe more air relative to their body size than adults, and they often spend more time outdoors.
Experts have long warned that children are particularly susceptible to pollution exposure. Their vulnerability stems from developing respiratory systems, higher air intake relative to body weight, and greater time spent outside.
“We recognize a clear link between air pollution exposure in children and chronic disease,” said Kevin Stewart, director of environmental health at the American Lung Association and a co-author of the report. “The effects are not always immediate. It’s not just about sending a child with asthma to the hospital. Pollution can also contribute to the development of asthma in children who might not otherwise have developed it, and it can reduce lung function over a lifetime due to early exposure.”
The report evaluated air quality across the country by measuring levels of ozone (commonly known as smog) and particle pollution (also known as soot), both over short-term periods and year-round exposure.
Counties were graded based on the concentration of these pollutants as well as the duration of exposure. The analysis draws on data collected between 2022 and 2024. According to the authors, air quality during this period showed both improvements and setbacks.
Nearly 4 million more people in the United States were exposed to unhealthy levels of smog between 2022 and 2024 compared to the 2021–2023 period used in the previous report. Meanwhile, more than 61 million people lived in counties that received failing grades for short-term spikes in particle pollution, and another 75 million lived in counties with failing grades for year-round particle pollution. Despite these high numbers, both figures represent an improvement compared to earlier years.
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