Clean Air

We all need clean air to be healthy and well. A major threat to health worldwide, poor air quality causes 1 out of every 9 deaths. Although air quality in the United States has improved significantly over the last several decades, it remains an important quality of life concern, particularly for low income and communities of color. Children and people with chronic respiratory disease are particularly vulnerable to negative health impacts of poor air quality.


In any given community there may be multiple causes of poor outdoor air quality, including natural factors like topography and weather, and human sources of air pollution like vehicle emissions, burning of firewood and industrial pollution. On the local level, air quality may differ significantly between neighborhoods - with poorer air quality in many lower income neighborhoods which are more likely to be close to major roadways and industrial polluters. Indoor air quality is also a major issue, often arising from poor ventilation, smoking and other factors.


Reducing air pollution benefits human health and ecological health. Changes to transportation systems, economic systems and industrial practices can improve air quality at scale. At local levels, communities can expand tree canopies and green space, create smoke-free and exhaust-free areas, and establish community benefit agreements and local air quality monitoring programs to improve air quality.

Resources & Tools


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Georgia Qualified Allocation Plan for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Georgia Health Policy Center
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Division Street Gateway
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Spokane Regional Health District
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King Street Station Multimodal Hub
Resource - Assessment
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Alameda County Goods Movement Planning for Health
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 03/14/2016
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Advanced Metering Infrastructure
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 03/31/2012
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Clark County Highway 99 Sub-Area Plan
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 12/31/2007
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Roca Honda Mine
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 02/28/2013
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Michigan Street Corridor Plan: A Health Impact Assessment
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by City of Grand Rapids
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Cargo Atlanta Citywide Freight Study
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development
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Red Dog Mine Extension Aqqaluk Project
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 09/30/2009
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Quequechan River Rail Trail Phase 2
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Metropolitan Area Planning Council
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Coastal Region Metropolitan Planning Organization Freight Transportation Plan
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 12/31/2014
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Fresno County Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategies
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 04/30/2014
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Central Corridor Area Plan
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 12/31/2011
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Atlanta Regional Plan 2040
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Georgia Institute of Technology School of Architecture
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Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 12/31/2006
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Ethane Cracker in Monaca, Pennsylvania
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 12/31/2013
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Merced County General Plan Update
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by HIP
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Tice Community Connectivity and Redevelopment
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Florida Department of Health in Lee County
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National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Integrated Activity Plan
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 12/31/2011
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Buford Highway and NE Plaza Redevelopment
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by University of California Los Angeles
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State Route 520 Bridge
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 12/31/2007
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Community Climate Choices
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Oregon Health Authority Division of Public Health
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Climate Smart Community Scenarios
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Oregon Health Authority
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Proctor Creek's Boone Boulevard Green Street
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 03/31/2015
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2002 Federal Farm Bill
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Health Impact Project
Published on 11/30/2004
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California Drinking Water Project Funding
Resource - Assessment
Brought to you by Sequoia Foundation

 Related Topics


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Respiratory Diseases

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Environmental Racism

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Climate Crisis

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Sustainability

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Climate Justice

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Active Transportation