For many Americans, the reality of questionable air quality has been a persistent issue, often underestimated. Recent wildfires in New Jersey have dramatically impacted the Air Quality Index (AQI) not only in the state but also in surrounding regions, including the New York City metro area and Long Island. A concerning report from the American Lung Association has raised alarms about the deteriorating air conditions, and in the following sections, we will delve into the implications of this air quality crisis which affects nearly everyone across the United States.
Understanding the Factors Behind Poor Air Quality
According to the April 2025 “State of the Air” report published by the American Lung Association, the decline in air quality in America is attributed to a multitude of factors. These include increased emissions, environmental changes, and natural disasters that have significantly altered the landscape of air pollution.
The report highlights that “Years of successful cleanup of emissions from transportation, energy generation, and industrial processes have contributed to falling ozone levels across much of the country,” indicating some progress. However, it also warns, “Unfortunately, as demonstrated in 2023, a single devastating fire season has the potential to negate that progress temporarily, presenting new challenges for air pollution control initiatives and heightening the health risks for affected communities.”
The reference to the “bad fire” in 2023 pertains specifically to the catastrophic Canadian wildfires that engulfed regions in a thick layer of smoke, severely impacting the air quality in the Northeast and Midwest during mid-2023.
Watch for hazy skies in #NYC. @GuyBrownWeather says an Air Quality Alert is in effect as smoke from a New Jersey wildfire drifts into the five boroughs. pic.twitter.com/8WS1Gv4cA2
— NY1 Weather (@NY1weather) April 24, 2025
“This year’s report illustrates the severe consequences that air pollution has on an increasing number of individuals,” stated ALA President and CEO Harold Wimmer in an interview with USA Today. “Families across the U.S. are facing daily health challenges linked to air pollution, and factors like extreme heat and wildfires exacerbate these issues. The impact of air pollution includes increased asthma attacks in children, health complications for outdoor workers, and even low birth weight in newborns.”
In April 2025, residents of New York City and Long Island experienced a noticeable decline in air quality, which was directly attributed to the ongoing wildfires in New Jersey.
Identifying the Most Affected Areas in the United States
The 2025 report from the Lung Association identifies the top ten metropolitan areas across the United States experiencing the worst levels of “daily particulate matter pollution.” These areas include Bakersfield, California, Fairbanks, Alaska, Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, Visalia, California, Fresno-Madera-Hanford, California, Reno-Carson City-Gardnerville Ranchos, Nevada-California, Los Angeles-Long Beach, California, Yakima, Washington, Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, and Sacramento-Roseville, California.
When it comes to the most polluted metro areas based on “short-term particles,” the following regions are highlighted: Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, Los Angeles-Long Beach, California, Sacramento-Roseville, California, Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, Reno-Carson City, Nevada, and Fairbanks, Alaska.
