Each Breath Blog
Breathing is essential to life, and through this blog, we hope to illustrate the importance of lung health. Hear directly from experts, researchers, staff and volunteers about our ongoing fight for healthy lungs and healthy air.
Preparing for Wildfire Season
Dr. John Balmes, a California air pollution researcher for more than three decades, is worried about this year’s wildfire season. Read More
Pittsburgh’s Air Quality
The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report found that Allegheny County, Pennsylvania—the home of Pittsburgh—was one of only 13 counties in the U.S. to earn failing grades for exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone. Read More
‘State of the Air’ Highlights Need for Environmental Justice
The American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report, released on April 21, found that more than 4 in 10 people (135 million) in the U.S. live with polluted air, placing their health and lives at risk. Read More
Wildfires and Climate Change: Protecting Your Indoor Air Quality with a Clean Room
Every year, millions of acres of land are consumed by fire in the United States. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, in 2020 there were over 57,000 wildfires in the U.S. that resulted in over 10.3 million acres burned. Read More
2020: The Year We Lost Our Breath
Amid the sadness and loss brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, one silver lining of 2020 was supposed to be the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act. Read More
The Air Down There: A Miner’s Story on Developing Black Lung
For 37 years I mined coal to keep the lights on for everyone above ground. Back then, you never heard much about black lung or that you were working in an environment that could make you sick for the rest of your life. Read More
The Carcinogen Hidden in Your Home
As we are moving office furniture and gym equipment into our homes, we need to talk about the hidden carcinogen that may be lurking: radon. Read More
#MyCleanAirStory: Contest Winners
We all have a reason why we want and need clean air. And while air pollution isn’t always visible, the risks it poses to lung health are very real. That’s why we asked people to share why clean air matters to them. Read More
Lung Cancer, Air Pollution and Climate Change – A Call to Action
When you think of risk factors for lung cancer, what comes to mind? Most of us think about the risk associated with smoking cigarettes, but not many people realize that air pollution can also cause lung cancer. Read More
Understanding the link between COVID-19 Mortality and Air Pollution
As we mourn and reflect on the more than 300,000 lives that have been lost to COVID-19 in the United States, we can also take stock of what the latest science shows us about the disease. Read More