More Americans breathing unclean air: Examining where, why pollution is getting worse for residents

As of April 2024, more than 130 million people lived in places with polluted air, an increase of roughly 10% from the same time the year before.
Published: Feb. 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM EST|Updated: Feb. 16, 2025 at 7:50 AM EST
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(InvestigateTV) — Wildfires are getting worse, both in numbers and intensity.

As we see an increase in extreme fires, more Americans are encountering a tragic reality.

In January 2025, wildfires broke out across the country’s second-most populated county.

Fueled by strong winds after just three days of burning, the Palisades and Eaton fires became two of the most destructive in California history.

The United States' most devastating fires are concentrated in the West in states like California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

However, the effects can reach thousands of miles away.

Reporter Kristin Crowley takes a closer look at the shift in air pollution in the US, and explains why some areas have cleaner air than others.