San Francisco Bay area homes face high air quality risks

Every home in the Bay Area is at high risk of experiencing poor air quality due to wildfires, a stark contrast to its status as one of the most expensive housing markets.

Christian Leonard reports for The San Francisco Chronicle.

In short:

A report by Redfin shows that all homes in the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas are highly susceptible to unhealthy air, mainly because of wildfires.
Among major U.S. metro areas, those in California face the highest risk of poor air quality.
Efforts to improve air quality in the Bay Area were effective until mid-2010s, but recent severe wildfires and ongoing emissions have deteriorated the situation.

Key quote:

"California is 'ground zero' for worsening air quality, with wildfires driving exposure to unhealthy air."

— First Street Foundation's research.

Why this matters:

The situation in the Bay Area serves as an example of the broader challenges climate change brings to urban health and living standards nationwide. How do wildfires impact your health?

www.ehn.org

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