More than 4 in 10 Americans Breathe Unhealthy Air, People of Color 3 Times as Likely to Live in Most Polluted Places American Lung Association's 'State of the Air' report finds air quality worsened by climate change, remains environmental justice issue News provided by Share this article Share this article CHICAGO, April 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report from the American Lung Association finds more than 4 in 10 people (135 million) in the U.S. live with polluted air, placing their health and lives at risk. The 22 nd annual "State of the Air" report shows that people of color were 61% more likely to live in a county with unhealthy air than white people, and three times more likely to live in a county that failed all three air quality grades. While the report finds some improvements in the nation's air quality, it is clear that in many parts of the country climate change is making our air quality worse.