The American Lung Association has expanded its national clean air initiative to the Bronx as rising air pollution and extreme weather continue to pose growing health risks for people living with chronic lung disease.
Backed by a $3.5 million investment over four years from the CVS Health Foundation, the programme aims to help residents better manage conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during periods of poor air quality.
The initiative brings together several healthcare providers, including SBH Health System, BronxCare Health System and NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, alongside community organisations such as Health People, Urban Health Plan and Bronx Independent Living.
The partners will work to improve awareness of the health impacts of air pollution by providing healthcare professionals with tools to better support patients during poor air quality events, helping residents reduce their risk of complications, and using local air quality data to shape education programmes and encourage policies designed to protect lung health.
The expansion comes as communities across the United States experience more frequent extreme weather events, including heatwaves, wildfires, flooding and severe storms, all of which can contribute to worsening air quality. According to the American Lung Association, nearly half of Americans reported experiencing the effects of extreme weather in the past year.
The Bronx remains one of the areas most affected by air pollution. In the American Lung Association’s 2026 State of the Air report, Bronx County received a ‘D’ grade for ozone pollution and recorded elevated levels of particle pollution. More than 112,000 adults and 23,000 children in the borough are living with asthma, highlighting the need for targeted support.
Alongside the local programme, the Lung Association has launched a free online educational course designed to help people with chronic lung disease understand the relationship between extreme weather, air pollution and respiratory health. Available on demand, the course is aimed at patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals and community health educators, and offers continuing education credit for participating healthcare providers.
The organisation says the initiative is intended to strengthen community resilience by improving public awareness, supporting frontline healthcare professionals and equipping people with practical information to protect their lung health as climate-related air quality challenges become increasingly common.
Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, said: ‘Extreme weather and air pollution are urgent public health threat. Both extreme weather and worsening air pollution can take a serious toll on lung health, especially for people living with asthma, COPD and other chronic lung diseases. But everyone can take steps to reduce exposure to unhealthy air and protect their lungs. By understanding how extreme heat, storms and air pollution impact our health, we can work together to create healthier, more resilient communities.’
Photo: PatternPictures
Leave a Reply