PHOENIX – The Phoenix metropolitan area is one of the most ozone-polluting cities in the United States, according to a new study. Aviation report status From the American Lung Association. The report highlights that people of color are particularly affected by air pollution and the health problems it can cause.

In addition to being ranked the fifth most ozone-polluted city for the second year in a row, the report also found that the metropolitan area ranked seventh for year-round particulate pollution and the most polluted for short-term particulate pollution. It also states that it ranks 13th in the city. .

Maricopa County ranks seventh among the most polluted counties in the United States for ozone pollution, failing the association’s rankings for high ozone days and particulate pollution. county report card.

According to JoAnna Strother, senior director of advocacy for the Arizona-based American Lung Association, the Phoenix metropolitan area has many factors that contribute to ozone pollution.

“Ozone is made by sunlight and heat, and is also mixed with volatile organic compounds. …They can come from a variety of sources, especially the transportation sector, which is one of the biggest contributors,” Strother said. said. “When they come together in the presence of heat and sunlight, ozone is formed. It will stick.”

The Environmental Protection Agency defines particulate pollution as a mixture of airborne solid and liquid droplets, such as dust, dirt, soot, and smoke. Inhaling these particles can affect the lungs and heart and cause serious health hazards.

Wildfires in the West are a major contributor to increasingly unhealthy levels of particulate pollution, according to the report.

“Wildfires are a peak place, especially if you look at short-term particulate pollution and wildfire seasons, and you see an increase in particulate levels over the years,” Strother said.

Who is affected by ozone and particulate pollution?

About 120 million people in the United States live in counties that fail at least one grade of ozone or particulate pollution, according to the report, and 64 million of them, or 54 percent, are people of color.

“Studies show that people of color are more likely to be exposed to air pollution than white people and are more likely to suffer health hazards from air pollution. It may be due to a long history of racism,” the report said. “Practices such as the discriminatory delineation of so-called ‘high-risk’ neighborhoods by mortgage lenders, and institutionalized housing segregation of the 20th century undermine the ability of many people of color to build wealth, limiting their mobility and political power. ”

The Phoenix metropolitan area has a population of approximately 5 million people, including 2.3 million people of color, according to the report. census data.

“We know that communities of color are more at risk because they are often located near sources of pollution. It’s not just in areas with high concentrations, but also next to sources of pollution, which could be oil and gas drilling,” Strother said.

This makes people of color more likely than white people to have chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease that are exacerbated by air pollution.

“Communities of color are disproportionately affected, putting their health at constant risk. It’s highly likely that their health has been severely impacted as a result,” Yara said. Marin, Nishiuchi Regional Director at Vote Solar, which is fighting for clean energy.

Marin, who grew up in Phoenix, lives here, and has family here, said she was devastated to see it ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the country.

Malin said he had health problems and suffered from asthma.

“I was affected by asthma as an adult, but no one ever wondered. Many of my friends and colleagues have been diagnosed with asthma and other respiratory diseases, but No one ever questioned why, until I grew up I realized it was based on our environment, the community we grew up in. We were close to processing plants Because I live in ,” Marin said.

Air pollution can make asthma symptoms worse, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

According to the association, ozone irritates the lungs and airways and can trigger asthma symptoms, requiring increased doses of asthma medications and emergency treatment.

“Ozone can reduce lung function… (and) make deep breathing more difficult.” According to the AAFA website.

Airborne particles can also cause asthma, according to the AAFA, and people with this condition are at increased risk of breathing in small particles, which can be exacerbated.

Marin said it was important to warn communities of color that living near polluted places affects their health and quality of life.

“We recognize how important it is to not only advocate and educate our communities, but to make sure that these communities are finding solutions to move away from gas and fossil fuels to clean energy. Technology, cleaner communities in general,” Marin said.

Elandi Treviño, Texas Field Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force, an advocacy group fighting air pollution, also grew up surrounded by pollution and has chronic health problems. She is also her mother and niece.

“You’ll need not just one solution, but many solutions at the same time, or at least many different approaches at the same time,” says Treviño. “The reality is that everyone should take ownership.”

Strother said the issue needs to be resolved at the federal and state levels.

“We are pushing the Biden administration to set higher standards for ozone and particulate matter. We know these standards must meet health measures and be more protective. “Even within the state, we have the same task of starting to clean up contaminated sites. You can better protect your health.