Denver ranks 8th worst in the nation for air pollution

We live in Colorado. We see the mountains. We feel the breeze. It’s easy to assume we’re breathing some of the cleanest air in the country.

We’re not.

Almost half of America’s children are breathing harmful air, according to the American Lung Association’s 2026 State of the Air report.

The report finds that 33.5 million children in the U.S., or 46% of people under 18 years old, live in an area that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution.

More than 7 million children (10% of all kids) live in a community with failing grades for all three measures.

And right here at home, the Denver metro ranks 8th worst in the nation for ozone pollution — and still earned an “F” grade. The culprits? Cars, factories, wildfires, and coal plants. The good news is particle pollution did improve significantly, dropping from 40th worst to 106th. But experts say we’re far from in the clear.

Children are especially at risk because their lungs are still developing. Long-term exposure can trigger asthma and reduce lung function for life.

Mountain views don’t mean mountain-fresh air. And this report is a reminder that even here in beautiful Colorado, we can’t take the air we breathe for granted.

Children are especially vulnerable because their lungs are still developing. Long-term exposure can trigger asthma and reduce lung function for life.

The report is based on data collected between 2022 and 2024.

Read the study from the American Lung Association here