In 2021, the U.S. emitted 67 million tons of air pollution, much of which consisted of fine particulate matter like dust, soot, and fluid droplets. This fine particulate matter is linked to numerous serious health issues, including cancer.
While air pollution poses deadly health risks, these risks are not evenly distributed across all Americans. A new report highlights that Black seniors are three times more likely to die from particle air pollution exposure than white seniors.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that 67 million tons of pollution were released into the atmosphere in 2021. Sources include vehicles, factories, refineries, power plants, and even natural occurrences like forest fires and volcanic eruptions.
