Every year, the American Lung Association (ALA) publishes its State of the Air findings, a report dedicated to providing insights on air quality, particle pollution trends, and important data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For those facing health conditions or lung cancer, these findings are key to informing us about changes to the air we breathe and what we can do to stay healthy.
There’s a lot of valuable information in the 2025 report, so we’ve compiled the most pressing insights on air quality and why it matters for your health.
Today, 46% of Americans live in cities with unhealthy pollution levels
The State of the Air report finds that nearly half of the U.S. population live in places with unhealthy levels of ozone (smog) or particle pollution (soot).
Air pollution can increase the risk for many conditions including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, lung cancer, and metabolic disorders. Exposure to air pollution can also contribute to respiratory conditions such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, asthma, and increased COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Certain populations are especially vulnerable to these effects. Older adults, pregnant people, and individuals with underlying health conditions face higher risks of health consequences from exposure to air pollution. Their bodies and lungs may be more susceptible to the damage caused by pollutants, placing them at an increased risk of respiratory illnesses and infections.
Risk for disease isn’t limited to geographics or demographics
Although your location, age, and underlying health are all important factors to consider when thinking about air pollution, the following variables are also critical to consider. These include:
- Level of exposure: Your risk can be influenced by your home or work environment and how often you’re breathing in polluted air.
- Access to healthcare: Having the right health coverage, care team, and the ability to interpret and act on public health information can affect how well you manage your own health risks.
- Psychosocial stressors: Social and systemic inequities can magnify the effects of air pollution. People of color, people living in poverty, and communities in marginalized neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by poor air quality.
Being aware of these wide range of factors can help individuals and communities better protect themselves and push for systemic changes to reduce inequities and improve public health.
Why does this matter to lung cancer patients?
Exposure to particle and ozone pollution increases the stress on your lungs and is the second largest risk factor for lung cancer. Breathing in air pollution can worsen symptoms and research shows that it can shorten lung cancer survival. Although this information can be alarming, understanding your environment and personal risk factors can provide you with the knowledge you need to protect your health. Below are a few tips that can help protect you from unhealthy air:
- Improve your indoor air quality by regularly replacing HVAC filters. Air purifiers can also help remove particles in the air.
- Limit your time outdoors when the air quality is poor
- Avoid being next to heavily trafficked roads for long durations (e.g. highways, busy intersections)
- Avoid burning firewood and trash
Don’t be afraid to ask your care team about the effects of air pollution and the additional steps you can take to limit your exposure and safeguard your health.
If you’re interested in reviewing your local town’s report card or seeing how your city measures up to others, the ALA has a great tool (see What’s the State of Your Air section) that allows you to search by city, zip code or county and review data that includes ozone quality, particle pollution and the populations who are highest risk for harm.
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