Millions of American Kids Are Breathing Dangerous Air, New Report Finds

More than 152 million Americans are living in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association's 27th annual "State of the Air" report, and nearly half of all children in the country are among them.

"Today, nearly half of all children in the United States live in a community impacted by unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, or both," said Will Barrett, who leads nationwide clean air advocacy for the association.

The report tracks ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, along with particle pollution, a mixture of dust, dirt, soot, smoke and liquid droplets suspended in the air. Exposure to these pollutants is linked to asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, preterm births and lung cancer. By 2050, researchers predict pollution at current levels could cause up to 4,300 additional premature deaths per year in the U.S.

Children and teens face heightened risk because their lungs are still developing and they tend to spend more time outside being physically active, making them more susceptible to the effects of exposure.

Health experts recommend checking daily air quality forecasts for your area and limiting outdoor activity on high-pollution days. Barrett also urged families to take their concerns to local and state officials. "We need more progress on clean air, not less," he said.