California and other Western states lead in unhealthy levels of air pollution, report shows

California and other Western states are experiencing dirtier air quality due to worsening heat, drought and wildfires, and communities of color are disproportionately exposed to pollution, according to a report published by the American Lung Association on Wednesday.

The “State of the Air” report found that nearly 120 million people, more than a third of the population, lived in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution between 2019 and 2021. And more than 64 million people of color lived in counties with higher levels of pollution, comprising more than half of people who live...