U.S. Air Quality Is Improving, But Not Everyone Is Breathing Easier

Industrial smokestacks are spewing a lot less pollution into our air than they did decades ago but that doesn’t mean everyone is breathing easier, according to a new study.

Researchers looked at six types of emissions in counties across the U.S. from 1970 to 2010.

Overall, the results showed large decreases in sulfur dioxide from industrial and energy activities and moderate decreases in nitrogen oxide from transportation, energy and commercial generation.

But the researchers say certain races, ethnicities and socio-economic groups aren’t seeing these improvements.

For example, they found counties with larger Hispanic or Indian American populations experienced increases in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and ammonia emissions.

And areas with greater family income saw larger decreases.

The lead author says, “Policies specifically targeting reductions in overburdened populations could support more just reductions in air pollution and reduce disparities in air pollution exposure.”