Arkansas ranked number one in nation for lung disease risk
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has ranked Arkansas as the state where residents face the highest lung disease risk in the nation. A study released by the center gave Arkansas the top score after weighing smoking rates, household smoke exposure, smoke-free laws and air pollution.
Arkansas earned a lung risk score of 83.5, the highest in the study. Tennessee ranked second at 77.6. West Virginia placed third at 76.4. Oklahoma came in fourth at 74.1. Kentucky rounded out the top five at 73.7.
Utah had the lowest score, at 13.3. The study scored all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Researchers drew on 6,394 data points from federal surveys, government air monitors and smoke-free law records. The data covered adult smoking, the share of children living with a smoker, coverage by comprehensive smoke-free laws and average fine particle air pollution.
Adult smoking rates average 12.8 percent nationwide. About 10.3 percent of children live in households where someone smokes. Fine particle pollution ranged from 3.7 to 9.5 micrograms per cubic meter across states. The national average sat at 7.9 micrograms per cubic meter.
Smoking rates fell in every state from 2011 to 2022 by more than the survey margin of error. Kentucky recorded the largest drop, falling 11.6 percentage points. Nationally, the share of children living with a smoker fell from 15.5 percent to 10.3 percent.
Smoking remains far more common among lower-income households. Across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, 26.8 percent of adults in households earning less than $15,000 a year smoke. By comparison, 4.9 percent of adults in households earning $200,000 or more smoke.
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com published the study. The Mesothelioma Center is an advocacy and resource organization focused on asbestos-related diseases and lung health risks.
Lung disease risk varies widely by state. Local health departments work to cut exposure through tobacco cessation programs and air quality monitoring. Public health experts say both household smoke and outdoor pollution contribute to long-term lung damage.
