Kansas City Ranks High for Pollution in American Lung Association’s Report
In a concerning revelation, a recent report by the American Lung Association has shown that Kansas City ranks high for air pollution among US cities. The city ranks 20th out of all American cities in terms of year-round particle pollution.
The State of the Air Report
The ‘State of the Air’ report by the American Lung Association offers a grim look at air quality across the US. It shows that air quality is poorest it has been in the last 25 years, with an alarming 131 million Americans currently living in areas with unhealthy levels of particle pollution. This translates to nearly 40 percent of the US population being exposed to air pollution.
“Particle pollution is those really, really tiny particles that are about 1/30th the width of a human hair,” explained a representative from the American Lung Association, Kansas. “They are particularly dangerous to individuals with existing health conditions such as asthma, COPD, and lung cancer.”
Poverty, Ethnicity, and Pollution
Additionally, the report raises issues of environmental justice, drawing attention to how poverty and ethnicity impact exposure to pollution. Individuals living in poverty and people of color are found to be more susceptible to the health hazards caused by particle pollution.
Why Kansas City Struggles with Pollution
One of the reasons Kansas City ranks so high in pollution levels is due to its position as a major transportation hub. However, there are efforts underway to counteract this problem.
“Kansas City has implemented a climate action resiliency plan,” reported a city official. “Through this plan, residents can monitor and manage their own contributions to air pollution, for an example, through the use of electric vehicles.”
Although the increased use of electric vehicles offers a partial solution, it falls short of addressing the larger problem. Climate change and events like the West Coast wildfires also contribute significantly to the increasing levels of pollution.
Impact on Residents
Long-time Kansas City residents have expressed their concerns over the escalating pollution levels and the impact on public health. Many families have noted an increase in respiratory conditions such as asthma in their children, which they attribute to declining air quality. Some have even chosen to move to rural areas in search of cleaner air.
Despite these concerns, many are unsure about what action they can take to improve the situation on a personal level. There is a growing sense of despair and guilt about not doing enough to protect the environment, particularly given the evident consequences of climate change, such as intensified forest fires and rising sea levels.
The Future
With already high pollution levels and no clear solutions on the horizon, the future, particularly for the younger generation, looks challenging. There is a pressing need for effective measures to reduce pollution and protect the residents of Kansas City and other highly polluted cities across the US.
