>>> GOOD EVENING. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO THINK TOO FAR BACK TO REMEMBER JUST HOW MISERABLE IT COULD BE WHEN THE BAY AREA IS CHOKING ON SMOKE. TODAY, THERE'S A NEW RECORD CARD CONFIRMING WE DEAL WITH SOME OF THE UNHEALTHIEST AIR IN THE COUNTRY. THE STATE OF THE AIR REPORT CARD FROM THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION RANKED THE BAY AREA THE FIFTH WORST FOR ANNUAL PARTICLE SOLUTION OUT OF MORE THAN 200 METROPOLITAN AREAS. WE WERE SEVENTH WORST FOR EXPOSURE TO SHORT-TERM PARTICLE SOLUTION, AND THEN 12 WORST FOR OZONE POLLUTION. ALMOST EVERY BAY AREA COUNTY GOT A FAILING GRADE FOR SHORT-TERM SPIKES IN PARTICLE POLLUTIONS. NOW DRIVEN MOSTLY BY ALL THE WILDFIRES THAT SENT SMOKE OUR WAY DURING THE 2020 AND 2022 AREAS WHEN THE REPORT COLLECTED ITS DATA THEN. SO WHO COULD FORGET THE DAY THE SKY TURNED THAT ORANGE IN 2022? HARD TO FORGET. BUT THERE IS ALSO EVERYDAY SOURCES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO OUR BAD AIR. AMANDA HARRY IS LIVE AT THE BAY BRING TOLL PLAZA WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THE OVERALL POLLUTION PICTURE THERE. LET'S GIVE IT A BETTER GRADE, AMANDA? >> Reporter: THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION SAYS TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE BREATHING IN UNHEALTHY AIR TOO OFTEN AND IT'S PUTTING THEIR LIVES ATTRISTENING. ONE OF WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME HERE AND ALL THESE CARS ARE DRIVING BY. THE BAY AREA IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTED REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO BAD AIR QUALITY ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION. >> A LOT OF CHANGE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF AIR IS CHANGING. >> Reporter: WE CAUGHT UP AT BATEMAN PARK IN BERKELEY, SHE SAID THE AIR QUALITY RECENTLY STARTED CAUSING HER PROBLEM. >> A YEAR, AND YEAR AND A HALF, YEAH. I'VE NEVER HAD ALLERGIES BEFORE. NOW IT'S MY EYES, NOSE, FACE. >> Reporter: SHE TRIES TO STAY AWAY FROM POLLUTANTS, BUT WILL THE ALA SAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID ALL THE THINGS. >> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT AIR POLLUTION, ESPECIALLY POLLUTION COMING OUT OF THE PORT, FOR EXAMPLE. THESE ARE MAJOR SOURCES OF POLLUTIONS THAT ARE IMPACTING US EVERY DAY. BUT THERE IS ALSO WHEN YOU LAYER IN ON TOP OF THAT, THE WILD CARD SMOKE EPISODES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS. IT'S REALLY ADDING TO THE CHALLENGES OF KEEPING THE AIR CLEAN FOR EVERY COMMUNITY. >> Reporter: WILDFIRES ARE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS, SETTING CALIFORNIA AND THE BAY AREA APART FROM OTHER AREAS. MELISSA LONDON, A SCIENTIST, A COMPANY THAT MEASURES AND ANALYZES AIR POLLUTION IN GREENHOUSE GASES, SAYS SHE IS NOT SURPRISED BY THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY. SHE SAYS THE HIGH LEVEL OF PARTICULATE MATTER COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO HEALTH. >> IMPACTING EVERY LEVEL OF YOUR BODY, BUT CERTAINLY THEY'RE KNOWN TO INCREASE LIKE ASTHMA, CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, HIGH PM CONCENTRATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO THE HIGHER INSTANCES OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY. >> Reporter: EVEN THOUGH SHE DOESN'T HAVE ASTHMA OR OTHER SENSITIVITIES, THE AIR QUALITY HAD STILL AFFECT HER. >> I FEEL THE AIR QUALITY IMPACTS MY HEALTH WHEN I'M EXERCISING. I LIKE TO GO AND RUN AND RUN MY BIKE. AND ON DAYS WITH BAD AIR QUALITY ESPECIALLY DAYS WITH HIGH PM, I WON'T DO IT. >> Reporter: BARRETT SAYS THE AIR QUALITY AFFECTS PEOPLE WITH PRECONDITION ISSUES. >> PEOPLE WITH ASTHMA AND OTHER ILLNESSES ARE GREATER AT RISK. AND EVEN ONE DAY OF UNHEALTHY AIR COULD TRIGGER HEALTH EMERGENCIES RANGING FROM ASTHMA TO HEART ATTACKS, DEATHS, STROKES. IN LONG-TERM CASES WITH LUNG CANCER AND PREMATURE DEATH. >> Reporter: PEOPLE IN SENSITIVE GROUPS SHOULD REDUCE THEIR TIME OUTDOORS. SHE WORRIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. >> CONTINUE LIKE THIS, YEAH. EVERYTHING MAKES YOU WORRIED NOW. >> Reporter: THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATE SAYS HAVE SAYS THEY STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE GRADES. >> LET'S GET THE GRADES UP. >>> SOME OF THE WORST AIR QUALITY MEASURES CAME OUT OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY. OH MY. A BIG BUST THERE. CAME OUT OF BAKERSFIELD, TOPPING THE
