The air we breathe every day is overall getting worse, says the American Lung Association in its 2025 State of the Air report.

That’s due to unhealthy levels of ozone and particle pollution, exacerbated by human activity and a changing climate.  

The report, in its 26th edition, uses data collected by air quality monitors run by the Environmental Protection Agency, and grades counties based on standards set by the EPA to encourage states to reduce emissions. Grades reflect data collected from 2021 to 2023. 

Fulton County overall failed for its average number of days with high exposure to ozone pollution, also known as soot, and year-round exposure to particle pollution, also known as smog, coming from cars, power plants and the burning of other fossil fuels. There are also course particles, like dust, ash, pollen and smoke and can include toxic compounds from metals and salts.  

Atlanta ranked in the top five for metro areas in the Southeast with unhealthy levels of exposure to pollutants in the air. The Atlanta metro area saw five-and-a-half days on average of soot exposure a year.  

Macon fared better than Atlanta, receiving a “C” grade for soot and smog exposure, but its annual average of high exposure days was still worse than national standards.  

And while Savannah saw minimal changes in its air quality, it still lost its spot as one of the cleanest U.S. cities, according to a spokesperson for the American Lung Association.  

Air quality in Augusta-Richmond County improved enough to get its metro area off the list of most polluted cities, and onto the list of cleanest U.S. cities for ozone air pollution and short-term particle pollution.  

According to the report, children, seniors, people with lung diseases and people living in poverty are at the highest risk from long-term exposure to pollutants. Just over half a million adults with asthma live in the areas with reported data.  

But there’s no true statewide picture of air quality, since only 16% of Georgia counties have EPA air quality monitors. Danna Thompson, ALA’s advocacy lead in Georgia, said that leaves populations with gaps in information.  

“This really you know underscores the need for more monitors and access to air quality data,” she said. “That's really our call to action ... to continue to have these protections in place and to grow what we have existing now.” 

That's even as Congress eyes cuts to the EPA and moves to reverse some emissions-related regulations, something to which the ALA is publicly opposed.

“There are a lot of unknowns happening on the federal level,” Thompson said, "and on an individual and local level, staying engaged and staying aware are really critical during this period."

Nearly half of the total U.S. population is exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the report, and the average number of days that humans are exposed to unhealthy exposure continues to rise.  

Overall, air quality is still worse out west — wildfires play a big part. But the authors of the ALA report cite a shift east. An increase in the prevalence of natural disasters and extreme weather that cause heat and drought affect everyone's air quality, the report said.

Tags: air quality  air quality index  Environmental Protection Agency  EPA  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah  pollution  Georgia