A study by scientists at Harvard University looked at whether there was an average long-term exposure to a malignant case (PM)2.5) was associated with an increased risk of death from COVID-19 in the United States.
By comparing PM2.5 data to the Johns Hopkins University account of COVID-19 deaths in more than 3,000 counties in spring 2020, they found that long-term average exposure to this type of contamination was associated with worse outcomes from COVID-19.
Using air pollution data from 2000-2016, Findcare created this map of county-wide air pollution by United States.
Take a look at air quality results in your county on this interactive map of the United States.
A special substance, or grain pollutant, is made up of grains mixed with airborne droplets that are breathable and potentially harmful to your health.
Some grains are like large soot, but others, such as 2.5 micrometers or less, are invisible to the naked eye. Most come from pollutants created by cars, industry and power plants.
The findings of the Harvard Study were important and frightening. They found an association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution and death from COVID-19.
The United States adopted the Air Pollution Control Act 1955, the first federal clean air legislation, several years after 20 people died and more than 7,000 others became ill as a result of severe air pollution over it.
The Clean Air Act of 1990 specifically regulated the release of pollutants from industry and motor vehicles. Nevertheless, experts and scientists have been concerned that over time, low-level airborne pollution could pose a risk to public health – concerns that are now exacerbated by COVID- 19.
For more information, check out this chart to see the 20 worst cities for air quality.
Findcare ranked the top 10 counties by average PM2.5 pollution from 2000 to 2016. They also mapped the average PM2.5 pollution for each available county. Here are the results:
10. Clayton County, Georgia
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 13.7 μg / m ^ 3 – 14.2% above EPA status
- Worst year: 2000 (18.5 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2013 (9.4 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
A 2018 study by the American Lung Association, using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, found worrying levels of grain pollution as far back as 2005, but they have also found improvements since then in Clayton County, Georgia.
Located south of Atlanta, Clayton County is home to Hartsfield International Airport – Jackson Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world, and Interstate 75, which carries traffic to and from Atlanta and the surrounding area. metropolitan around.
9. Jefferson County, Alabama
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 13.8 μg / m ^ 3 – 14.6% above EPA status
- Worst year: 2000 (19.0 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2015 (9.7 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Once a center of iron, coal, and limestone mining, Jefferson County is the largest population in Alabama. Census data shows that about 16.3 percent of people live below the county’s federal poverty rate, which makes up the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Research has again linked poverty and homelessness to pollution in a number of ways. According to a 2017 report from
8. Hamilton County, Ohio
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 13.8 μg / m ^ 3 – 14.9% above EPA level
- Worst year: 2005 (17.4 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2016 (10.1 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Hamilton County in southern Ohio includes metropolitan Cincinnati and lies across the Ohio River from Kentucky. It is home to several Fortune 500 companies and their manufacturing factories, including grocery giant Kroger and conglomerate consumer products Procter & Gamble.
In 1906, the Smoke Reduction League was founded by the Cincinnati Women ‘s Club to fight smoke and air pollution in Cincinnati. They created the Office of the Inspector General of Smoke, one of the first organizations to help enforce community smoke regulations. Today, it is part of the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Group, which monitors air pollution and provides real-time air quality data to the public.
7. Vanderburgh County, Indiana
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 13.8 μg / m ^ 3 – 15.2% above EPA status
- Worst year: 2000 (18.0 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2016 (annual average 10.2 μg / m ^ 3)
Vanderburgh County Southwestern Indiana is home to the city of Evansville, which was historically surrounded by a large collection of coal-fired power plants.
The area has been a target of Sierra’s Beyond Coal Club Initiative promoting renewable energy.
6. Fulton County, Georgia
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 13.8 μg / m ^ 3 – 15.2% above EPA status
- Worst year: 2000 (18.9 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2013 (9.3 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Fulton County found a failure rate in the 2019 assessment of its ozone levels by the American Lung Association, using federal environmental data. Ground-level ozone is created when pollutants from vehicles, power plants, and other sources emit in sunlight, according to the EPA.
Big trade in Interstates 20, 75, and 85 all come together in Atlanta – at the heart of Fulton County in the name of Downtown Connector.
5. Marion County, Indiana
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 14.3 μg / m ^ 3 – 19.3% above EPA status
- Worst year: 2005 (17.9 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2016 (annual average 10.4 μg / m ^ 3)
Marion is the largest county in Indiana, and is home to Indianapolis. The implementation of air quality standards in Indiana relies heavily on federal standards.
Under Indiana law, state environmental regulations cannot be stricter than those set by the federal government.
4. Tulare County, California
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 14.5 μg / m ^ 3 – 20.8% above EPA level
- Worst year: 2002 (18.7 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2010 (11.9 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Located between Bakersfield and Fresno, milk is Tulare County ‘s main commodity, producing more than any other county in the country. Renowned as home to more cattle than humans, stocks contribute significantly to methane emissions, which adversely affect the climate and human health.
In 2019, conservation groups reached an agreement with the county that would help lower pollution from industrial milks through renewable energy generation among other efforts.
3. Fresno County, California
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 15.5 μg / m ^ 3 – 29.2% above EPA level
- Worst year: 2000 (19.4 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2016 (12.2 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Results by the American Lung Association, based on Environmental Protection Agency data, give Fresno failure rates for its ozone level, 24-hour grain pollution, and annual grain pollution rate.
The EPA has launched efforts in the region, at the heart of San Joaquin’s vast agricultural valley, to promote clean farming technology such as electric tractors and hybrid vehicles and zero emissions for dairies and farms, solar power fertilizers and irrigation pumps. those with diesel power and cleaner options for getting rid of the paper tarpaulins traditionally used for hand-harvested raisin grains are traditionally dried after use.
2. Los Angeles County, California
- Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 15.7 μg / m ^ 3 – 31.0% above EPA status
- Worst year: 2001 (21.6 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
- Best year: 2015 (12.2 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Air quality in Southern California has improved dramatically not only in recent decades, but has gone through major improvements since the 1950s when Los Angeles was famous for smog so thick that it could limit visibility to a few city blocks.
Fuel in dirty air was a lack of public transport, long walks, a motorway system and a thriving economy.
1. Orange County, California
Average pollution of granular material, 2000-2016: 15.8 μg / m ^ 3 – 31.6% above EPA status
Worst year: 2001 (22.0 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Best year: 2015 (12.5 μg / m ^ 3 annual average)
Nearly 3.2 million people live in Orange County, where 70 percent of voters agreed a fifty-30-year sales tax in 2006 to help reduce associated air pollution to transport through reduced motorway pressure and public expansion.
In a link between air quality and COVID-19, in late January, local officials suspended borders on Orange County crematoriums, which are typically subject to regulations regarding the number of human remains burned due to potential impacts on air quality. The limits were raised due to the large increase in the number of deaths due to COVID-19.
Keep reading to see the 50 county air pollution levels in the U.S. and find others.