Infographic: What's Up With Our Air?
Satellite data show that New York City has seen a 32 percent decrease in nitrogen dioxide between 2005 and 2011. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA satellite images reveal less nitrogen dioxide.
Breathe it in. America's air has actually gotten cleaner.
An infographic released by NASA shows that over a 10-year period, the air in the United States has become less polluted.
Images from NASA's Aura satellite unveiled in June show that since 2005, people are breathing in less nitrogen dioxide, one of six common pollutants monitored and regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The number of cars on the road has increased, however, so the shift in air quality is the result of regulations and technological innovation, NASA scientists say.
Still, there are air quality issues throughout the rest of the world, and 142 million Americans live in areas with polluted air.
"While our air quality has certainly improved over the last few decades, there is still work to do – ozone and particulate matter are still problems," said Bryan Duncan, an atmospheric scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
Watch the infographic below to see the air getting cleaner before your very eyes:
