Limited consumer access to clean transportation options is contributing to an air pollution problem threatening the health of nearly half of all Americans

A new report from the American Lung Association shows the importance of expanding clean transportation options

Many consumers don’t have access to clean transportation options, contributing to air pollution that is endangering the health of nearly half of all Americans.

Nearly 5 in 10 people —about 150 million Americans —are living with unhealthy breathing conditions, according to the American Lung Association. The organization’s 20th annual ‘State of the Air’ report card, which ranks cities and states by ozone and particle pollution, found worsening air quality overall in the country for the fourth year in a row. Making matters worse, a recent study from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health found a link between exposure to air pollution and vulnerability to respiratory diseases, including the novel coronavirus.

A lack of clean transportation options remains one of the biggest problems. Consumer Reports has been calling on car companies to do a better job of providing consumers with vehicle options that are more efficient and less polluting. CR research finds that car companies could be installing more fuel-saving technology that is cost-effective for drivers, and would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CR is also advocating for policies that push car companies to provide cleaner cars, including electric vehicles.

Consumers are very interested in cleaner transportation options. 

• A recent survey by Consumer Reports found fuel economy to be the feature that drivers most wanted to see improved in their current vehicle. 
• Prospective drivers told CR in 2019 that they want to see automakers provide more kinds of all-electric vehicle types, such as pickups and SUVs. 
• CR’s research shows automakers don’t spend much time advertising about vehicle emissions, and other recent research shows automakers are doing very little to educate consumers about all-electric vehicles.

In addition, most consumers aren’t using more efficient forms of transit, like public transportation, in part because they don’t think they have easy access to it, and don’t feel they are very reliable.

To learn more about what you can do to reduce harmful air pollution, Consumer Reports has several helpful options:

• Find out how to reduce your exposure to unhealthy air.
• See the 6 steps you can take to save money and energy at home.
• Begin your journey to cutting out trips to the gas station and eliminating the tailpipe pollution from your vehicle by visiting our Electric Cars 101.

And to see how your community fared in the latest ‘State of the Air’ report by the American Lung Association, please visit their website: Lung.org/sota.

Consumer Reports sends its condolences to the American Lung Association on the passing of ‘State of the Air’ lead author Janice Nolen.