San Joaquin Valley air still ranks the worst in the country, according to the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report released on Wednesday.
Bakersfield and the Fresno-Madera-Hanford region ranked worst in the country for particle pollution -- despite the fact that many of these cities experienced fewer unhealthy days than the previous year. Visalia also ranked second worst for ozone pollution, right behind the Los Angeles-Long Beach area.
The report estimates that more than 40 percent of Americans are exposed to unhealthy air, and that climate change is partially responsible for higher ozone production and higher particle pollution associated with wildfires.