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The Center for Environmental Filmmaking has partnered with the American Lung Association and the Center for Environmental Policy to assemble these resources for educators, advocates and families who want to know more about the importance of healthy air and how to join the fight for it. We will continue to add resources over time.

Air Quality and COVID-19

"Recent research suggests that individuals who have faced long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and underlying health conditions face higher rates of COVID-19 illness and mortality. Research has also shown that people of color, particularly African Americans, face greater than average risks from the health impacts of both air pollution and COVID-19."

Check out this webinar for further information and research findings.

Resources to Fight for Healthy Air

Raise your voice to protect health from air pollution and climate change with the American Lung Association's Healthy Air Campaign. 

Here are ways you can make a difference today:

 

Learn more about how air pollution and climate change affect health.

 

American Lung Association Photo with Dr. Aparna Bole calling to support clean air for our children's health.

Are you a health or medical professional interested in safeguarding healthy air for your patients? The American Lung Association’s Health Professionals for Clean Air and Climate Action website is a great resource to learn more about resources and opportunities specifically for health professionals looking to get involved!

 

Environmental Justice Resources

Environmental Justice Toolkit
As we seek environmental justice for communities harmed by climate change or poor air quality, we also must promote and seek racial justice. To help our community build an understanding of these issues, the American University Office of Sustainability has compiled a toolkit of recommended readings, podcasts, films, case studies, and more. Click here to access it.

Guidance to policymakers on incorporating social equity, cultural sensitivity, and community health considerations into air quality, climate, and energy planning. Link here for the toolkit.

Clean Air Act Resources

The Clean Air Act (CAA) is the comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources. Among other things, this law authorizes EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and public welfare and to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants. For more information on the Clean Air Act visit the EPA website.

The United States adopted the Clean Air Act in 1970 to protect our health from dirty, dangerous air. Thanks to that law, cities throughout the nation have cleaner air. Yet, science tells us that too many cities still have dangerous levels of air pollution. The American Lung Association works to push the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set and enforce strong pollution limits. We fight in the courts to enforce laws designed to make the air cleaner. And we advocate in Congress to protect these legal tools from people who want to make them weaker. 

Prior to the Clean Air Act being signed into law in 1970, there were many areas of the country suffering from poor air conditions. This timeline walks through what significant events led up to the Clean Air Act being signed into law and what has taken place since then.