Outdoor Air Quality

The environment in which children live plays an important role in their health and development. Children may be more vulnerable than adults to the adverse effects of environmental contaminants in air, food, drinking water, and other sources because their bodies are still developing. In addition, children have increased potential for exposure to pollutants because they eat, drink, and breathe more, in proportion to the size of their bodies, than adults. One important measure of children's environmental health is the percentage of children living in areas in which air pollution levels are higher than the allowable levels of the Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (referred to as NAAQS in this indicator).1 These standards, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Air Act, are designed to protect public health, including the health of susceptible populations such as children. Ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide are air pollutants associated with increased asthma episodes and other respiratory illnesses in children. These problems can lead to increased emergency room visits and hospitalizations.2, 3, 4, 5 Lead can affect the development of the central nervous system in young children,6 and exposure to carbon monoxide can reduce the capacity of blood to carry oxygen.7

Indicator PHY1 Percentage of children ages 0–17 living in counties with pollutant concentrations above the levels of the current air quality standards, 1999–2022
Indicator PHY1: Percentage of children ages 0–17 living in counties with pollutant concentrations above the levels of the current air quality standards, 1999–2022

NOTE: Percentages are based on the number of children living in counties where measured air pollution concentrations were higher than the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) level at least once during the year. The EPA periodically reviews these standards and may change them based on updated scientific findings. The indicator is calculated with reference to the current NAAQS levels for all years shown. Measuring concentrations above the level of a standard is not equivalent to violating the standard. The level of a standard may be exceeded on multiple days before the exceedance is considered a violation of the standard. Data were revised since previous publication in America's Children. Values have been recalculated based on updated data in the Air Quality System. For more information on the air quality standards that were used in calculating these percentages, see https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table.

SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, Air Quality System.

  • From 1999 to 2022, the percentage of children ages 0–17 living in counties with measured pollutant concentrations above the allowable levels of one or more NAAQS at least once during the year decreased from 76% to 54%.
  • From 1999 to 2022, the percentage of children living in counties with measured ozone concentrations above the level of the NAAQS at least 1 day per year decreased from 66% to 49%.
  • In 2022, 24% of children lived in counties with measured concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) above the level of the 24-hour NAAQS at least once during the year. This percentage was 55% in 1999.
  • From 1999 to 2022, the percentage of children living in counties with measured sulfur dioxide concentrations above the level of the NAAQS at least 1 day per year decreased from 31% to 3%. During this timeframe, the percentage of children living in counties with measured nitrogen dioxide concentrations above the level of the NAAQS at least 1 day per year decreased from 23% to nearly 0%.
  • In 2022, the percentage of children living in counties with measured pollutant concentrations above the levels of one or more NAAQS at least once during the year was 42% for those who were American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic; 45% for those who were White, non-Hispanic; 55% for those who were of Two or more races, non-Hispanic; 55% for those who were Black, non-Hispanic; 57% for those who were Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic; 67% for those who were Asian, non-Hispanic; and 69% for those who were Hispanic.

table icon PHY1 HTML Table

1 This measure does not differentiate between counties in which the Primary NAAQS are exceeded frequently or by a large margin and counties in which the standards are exceeded only rarely or by a small margin. It also must be noted that this analysis differs from the analysis utilized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the designation of "nonattainment areas" for regulatory compliance purposes.

2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Integrated science assessment for sulfur oxides—Health criteria (EPA/600/R-17/451). https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=338596

3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Integrated science assessment for oxides of nitrogen—Health criteria (EPA/600/R-15/068). https://www.epa.gov/isa/integrated-science-assessment-isa-oxides-nitrogen-health-criteria

4 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Integrated science assessment for ozone and related photochemical oxidants (EPA/600/R-20/012). https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=348522

5 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2019). Integrated science assessment for particulate matter. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/isa/recordisplay.cfm?deid=347534

6 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2013). Integrated science assessment for lead (EPA/600/R-10/075F). https://www.epa.gov/isa/integrated-science-assessment-isa-lead

7 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Integrated science assessment for carbon monoxide (EPA/600/R-09/019F). https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=218686

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