State of the Air Report: 1.1 Million New York Kids at Risk

A new report is raising concerns about the air millions of New Yorkers breathe — especially children.

The American Lung Association’s latest “State of the Air” report finds more than 1.1 million children across New York live in areas with unhealthy levels of pollution, underscoring both progress and persistent risks tied to air quality.

“The fact is that our report shows that far too many kids in the United States and here in New York are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution,”
Michael Seilback, Assistant Vice President of Nationwide Advocacy with the organization.

Mixed progress, emerging setbacks

The report tracks two primary pollutants: ozone — often called smog — and particle pollution, or soot. While long-term trends show improvement, Seilback said more recent patterns are troubling.

“We’ve actually seen major improvements in air quality across the country,” he said. “However, 1.1 million New York kids living in areas with failing air quality is a major problem. And the more immediate trends are actually moving in the wrong direction.”

Climate change is playing a growing role, he added, contributing to longer, hotter summers that worsen ozone pollution and increase the likelihood of large wildfires.

Wide variation across New York

Air quality varies significantly across the state, with grades ranging from A to F depending on location.

“New York is sort of a reflection of much of the country,” Seilback said. “We have grades that range literally from A through F.”

Even areas perceived as cleaner are not immune. Suffolk County on Long Island recorded some of the worst ozone pollution in the state — an example, Seilback said, of how pollution can travel and settle far from where it originates.

In contrast, the Albany metropolitan area ranked 143rd worst nationally, earning a B grade for ozone and a D for particle pollution.

“If my kids were to bring that home on their report card, we wouldn’t be going out to dinner to celebrate,” Seilback said. “We’d say we have more work to do.”

Pollution crosses regions

Experts say pollution is not just a local issue. Emissions from vehicles, industry, wood burning and even distant wildfires can affect communities hundreds of miles away.

“Ozone is this invisible, odorless gas,” Seilback said. “When it’s breathed into the lungs, it’s almost like getting a sunburn on your lung tissue.”

That exposure can lead to wheezing, asthma attacks, cardiovascular problems and even premature death, according to the report.

Policy concerns at state and federal levels

Seilback pointed to potential policy rollbacks as a major concern, including discussions in Albany about weakening New York’s climate law and federal actions at the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We need to be doing more, not less,” he said, warning that scaling back protections could increase pollution and health risks.

He also criticized recent federal moves to stop factoring health care costs into regulatory decisions, saying those impacts are critical to understanding the full consequences of pollution.

“Clean air shouldn’t be a controversial issue,” he said. “We should be able to protect our kids’ lungs and keep people out of emergency rooms from air pollution. And we all have a role to play.”

Health risks and vulnerable groups

Children, older adults and people with asthma or other lung and heart conditions face the greatest risks.

On high pollution days, Seilback advised limiting time outdoors and paying attention to symptoms.

“If you’re used to doing a 20-minute run, and suddenly it feels like a 40-minute run and it’s really tough to breathe — that is the illustration of what air pollution can do,” he said.

A call for action — and more data

Despite the challenges, Seilback emphasized that clean air protections have delivered real gains over time. Still, he noted that many areas — including parts of the Catskills — lack sufficient air quality monitoring, leaving gaps in data and awareness.

“Only about a third of the counties in the United States have air quality monitors,” he said. “We need an investment so that people are aware of the air quality where they live.”

Image: Smoke that drifted south from Canadian wildfires creates a think haze over New York Harbor as the Staten Island Ferry passes the Statue of Liberty on June 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)