Our office is proud to be supporting the American Lung Association this weekend at the “Dash to the Deck” charity event at Reunion Tower in Dallas. It is a cause that aligns directly with the work we do every day on behalf of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer patients and their families.
What the American Lung Association’s New Report Tells Us About the Air We Breathe
The American Lung Association released its 27th annual “State of the Air” report this week, and the findings are a reminder of how serious lung health is for communities across the country, including right here in Texas.
The 2026 report finds that 44% of Americans, more than 152 million people, live in places with failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. Nearly half of all children in the United States, about 33.5 million kids, live in counties that received a failing grade for at least one measure of air pollution.
Breathing particle pollution can increase the risk of lung cancer and has been linked to early death, heart attacks, strokes, and emergency room visits. These are not abstract statistics. They represent real families dealing with serious, preventable illness.
The report also notes that climate change is making it harder to protect the progress that has been made on air quality, with increases in high ozone days and spikes in particle pollution tied to extreme heat, drought, and wildfires putting millions of additional people at risk.
Why Lung Health Matters to Our Practice
Ben DuBose has represented mesothelioma patients and their families for more than 30 years. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma, and it is also a recognized cause of lung cancer in workers who were exposed on the job at refineries, shipyards, power plants, construction sites, and industrial facilities across Texas and the country.
The connection between environmental exposures and serious lung disease is at the center of every case we handle. Supporting organizations like the American Lung Association, which funds research, education, and advocacy on behalf of lung disease patients, is a natural extension of that work.
How You Can Help
The “Dash to the Deck” event at Reunion Tower benefits the American Lung Association’s ongoing programs in Texas. If you are in Dallas this weekend, we encourage you to participate or donate. You can find more information at lung.org/events.
