American Lung Association to Release 20th 'Annual State of the Air' Report, Identifying Unhealthy Air and Health Risks Across Nation

WHAT: The American Lung Association is releasing the results of its 20th annual “State of the Air”report, an annual air quality “report card” that tracks Americans’ exposure in cities nationwide to unhealthful levels of either ozone or particle pollution. The report also publishes a ranking of the most polluted and cleanest U.S. cities for air quality.

WHY: Millions of Americans live in counties and cities that have unhealthy levels of either ozone (smog) or particle pollution (soot)—the most common air pollutants that can cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, developmental and reproductive harm, lung cancer and even premature death. In this report, find out:

• If the air quality in your area is unhealthy to breathe
• What critical steps the nation must take to continue to make progress toward cleaner, healthier air
• Why we must combat climate change to continue progress in the fight for healthy air. 

WHERE: New findings from the “State of the Air” report will be live on Lung.org/sota following the launch. Embargoed report findings and embargoed interviews are available upon request prior to the report launch.

WHEN: The embargo on “State of the Air” 2019 lifts on April 24 at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time.

WHO: In addition to a variety of health experts, the following are available for media interviews on report findings and health impacts of air pollution:

• Janice Nolen, lead report author and National Assistant Vice President, Policy, American Lung Association
• Paul Billings, National Senior Vice President, Public Policy, American Lung Association
• Lyndsay Alexander, National Assistant Vice President, Public Policy, and Director of the Healthy Air Campaign, American Lung Association

HOW: To learn more about the report findings, contact Allison MacMunn at [email protected] or 312-801-7628.