Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. parents worry poor air quality is affecting their families, but few know what steps to take
A new, nationally representative survey of parents found that 87% are concerned about how air quality affects their own health and that of their family. Nearly two-thirds (63%) believe their children have already experienced negative health impacts due to poor air quality.
While concern is widespread, many parents are unsure how to respond. Only about one in three (37%) say they regularly check air quality reports. At the same time, 84% agree they would like to do more to address poor air quality, highlighting a clear gap between concern and action.
Access to information appears to be part of the challenge. A majority of parents (86%) want to learn more about the causes and effects of poor air quality, and nearly one in three (31%) have not taken actions because they don’t feel informed enough.
The survey was conducted through a collaboration between the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) and Sanofi. To help close these gaps in understanding and action, ASTC, Sanofi, and a national cohort of 14 science centers and museums have launched The Air We Share. This multi-year initiative will engage communities on how environmental challenges such as air pollution, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat affect respiratory health, and what individuals and communities can do to protect their health.
“Together with Sanofi and participating science centers, we can begin to help more people channel their concern into meaningful action,” said Rose Hendricks, PhD, Executive Director of Seeding Action at ASTC. “Through high-touch experiences in trusted community spaces, we aim to build knowledge, confidence, and motivation to help families take action on air quality”.
Additional key findings from the survey include:
- More than half of parents (51%) believe air quality is worsening, while 20% think it is staying the same, suggesting most families feel conditions are not improving.
- When asked what they would like to learn about air quality, parents say they are most interested in how poor air quality affects health (57%) and how to recognize signs of poor air quality (56%).
- Concern is highest among parents in urban areas, with 93% worried about their children’s respiratory health, compared with 84% in suburban and 85% in rural communities. Urban parents are also more likely to report that their children have already experienced negative health impacts (71%, vs. 59% suburban and 58% rural).
To support parents in taking action, The Air We Share initiative is expanding nationwide this year. The program is anchored by three leading science institutions, the Museum of Science (Boston, MA), The Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, PA), and Liberty Science Center (Jersey City, NJ), each selected for their strong community ties in regions where Sanofi has a longstanding presence in the United States.
In addition, 11 other science centers and museums across the country have joined the national cohort. Participating organizations receive funding, program resources, communications support, and access to a collaborative network of peers and scientific experts.
“Air quality isn’t just an environmental issue — it’s a health issue,” said Diana Blankman Roberts, Head, Corporate Social Responsibility at Sanofi US. “Many respiratory and chronic conditions are influenced by environmental factors, which makes this work directly relevant to our core mission. Through The Air We Share, in partnership with ASTC and science centers and museums nationwide, we’re helping families better understand that connection and take meaningful action to protect their health.”
Families can learn more, access resources, and see a full list of participating museums by visiting The Air We Share webpage, part of Sanofi’s STEMulate Growth initiative, which promotes inclusion in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for students in historically underserved communities across the United States.
About ASTC
The Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the understanding of and engagement with science and technology among all people. ASTC is a membership organization serving more than 600 science and technology centers and museums, and allied organizations, that engage nearly 110 million people annually across North America and in more than 40 countries. ASTC creates strategic opportunities, develops intellectual capital, and assembles resources to support our members in realizing their missions and engaging their communities. Learn more at astc.org.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is an R&D driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth. We apply our deep understanding of the immune system to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world, with an innovative pipeline that could benefit millions more. Our team is guided by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives; this inspires us to drive progress and deliver positive impact for our people and the communities we serve, by addressing the most urgent healthcare, environmental, and societal challenges of our time.