Over the past three months, I’ve been advised to handle my stress and anxiety by box breathing–the practice of breathing in deeply for 4 counts, holding it for 4 counts, exhaling for 4 counts and holding it for 4 counts–repeat.. I’ve done it and found it to be calming and centering. But, today, I learned that breathing deeply is becoming a challenge for a growing number of people in the US because of air pollution. Particulate matter and ozone in our air are increasing, and nearly half of Americans are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution according to the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report.

Since the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970, air quality in the US has improved significantly, but It is likely that will change in the coming years. On March 12, 2025, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the rollback of environmental regulations, directly impacting the air we rely on to live. Among the proposed changes are relaxing the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, relaxing the National Emission Standards for hazardous air pollutants for manufacturers and relaxing the Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

When announcing the rollbacks, Administrator Zeldin said, “Today is the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen. We are driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion and ushering in America’s Golden Age.”

It would appear that he is driving a dagger straight into our lungs as well.