Study: Half of kids in U.S. live in poor air quality

(CNN)– Nearly half of all Americans are breathing unhealthy air.

A new American Lung Association report shows 44% of the population lives in counties that have high levels of smog or soot.

That’s 152 million people.

The number is even worse for kids under 18 years old.

46% of them are breathing bad air.

That can cause lifelong problems including lungs that don’t develop fully and development of asthma.

Last week wildfires in Georgia impacted the air quality in the Midlands but as of Monday, April 27, 2026, Columbia’s air quality is good.