A recent series of reports highlight alarming air quality issues across the United States, revealing that nearly half of Americans breathe in unhealthy levels of air pollutants. Major cities like Columbus and Los Angeles continue to receive failing grades from the American Lung Association, with Columbus notably scoring an ‘F’ for soot levels. Metro areas such as Detroit, Atlanta, and Chicago are also among the worst for air pollution, particularly in terms of ozone smog. Despite some progress, regions like the Denver metro area and the Bay Area are reported to struggle with elevated levels of ozone pollution. Meanwhile, factors like wildfires and heat waves are exacerbating these air quality concerns, posing a significant public health risk as pollution exposure numbers reach decade highs.