US metro areas with the worst air pollution
Canva
US metro areas with the worst air pollution
Dark gray smoke billows out of factory stacks as the sun sets.
“The Crown” episode “Act of God” recreated for viewers the Great Smog of London, a catastrophic fog of polluted air that settled over the city in the winter of 1952. Sometimes called the Big Smoke, a dense cloud of coal-choked air turned day to night and killed thousands. An almost identical event had already occurred in 1948, in Donora, Pennsylvania. Home to the Donora Zinc Works, Donora was consumed by a dense smog filled with airborne pollutants released during zinc smelting. When the same unusual weather patterns that caused the disaster in Donora materialized in London, scientists knew what was coming but it was too late to act.
Following other tragedies in New York and the smoggiest day on record in Los Angeles, the U.S. government passed the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955—the predecessor of the Clean Air Acts. Nixon’s administration established the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 with the mission of enforcing regulations, collaborating with other organizations and sponsors, and educating the public about the hazards of pollution. The EPA has been successful in improving air quality in places like Donora.
Burning fossil fuels is the primary cause of both air pollution and climate change. In 2022, wildfires in the West—most of which were human-caused—were also culprits in the most polluted areas. Stacker compiled a list of the metro areas with the worst air pollution in the U.S. using the 2022 American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report.
You may also like: How alcohol-related deaths have changed in every state over the past two decades
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#25 (tie). Augusta, Georgia
Augusta downtown skyline on the Savannah River.
– Annual particle pollution: #25 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#25 (tie). Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport downtown skyline over the river.
– Annual particle pollution: #25 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#24. St. Louis
St. Louis downtown cityscape with the arch and courthouse at dusk.
– Annual particle pollution: #24 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#22 (tie). Chicago
Chicago cityscape over the river in the afternoon.
– Annual particle pollution: #22 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: #16 most polluted metropolitan area
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#22 (tie). Houston
Downtown Houston city skyline.
– Annual particle pollution: #22 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: #8 most polluted metropolitan area
You may also like: What kind of data is your car collecting about you?
Real Window Creative // Shutterstock
#21. Yakima, Washington
Downtown city center of Yakima.
– Annual particle pollution: #21 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #9 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Arbo.lifestyle // Wikimedia Commons
#18 (tie). McAllen, Texas
McAllen Convention Center at night.
– Annual particle pollution: #18 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Canva
#18 (tie). Philadelphia
D.C. at dusk.
– Annual particle pollution: #18 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#18 (tie). Eugene, Oregon
Eugene downtown cityscape and mountains in the afternoon.
– Annual particle pollution: #18 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #15 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Canva
#16 (tie). Detroit
An upward shot of Detroit buildings.
– Annual particle pollution: #16 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: #24 most polluted metropolitan area
You may also like: Marijuana violations have taken over 10,000 truck drivers off the road this year, adding more supply chain disruptions
Cody Markhart // Shutterstock
#16 (tie). Redding, California
Sacramento River in Redding.
– Annual particle pollution: #16 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #5 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #23 most polluted metropolitan area
Ahturner // Shutterstock
#15. Bend, Oregon
Aerial view of the Old Mill District in Bend.
– Annual particle pollution: #15 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#14. Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh daytime downtown scene over the Allegheny River.
– Annual particle pollution: #14 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #22 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Canva
#13. Indianapolis
An Indianapolis riverwalk with buildings in the background.
– Annual particle pollution: #13 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
photo.ua // Shutterstock
#12. Cincinnati
Cincinnati downtown in the evening.
– Annual particle pollution: #12 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
You may also like: 50 terms with origins in rural America
Johnny Habell // Shutterstock
#11. Sacramento, California
High viewpoint of downtown Sacramento.
– Annual particle pollution: #11 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #7 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #9 most polluted metropolitan area
Cbl62 // Wikimedia Commons
#10. El Centro, California
Hotel in El Centro.
– Annual particle pollution: #10 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: Not ranked in top 24 most polluted metropolitan areas
– High ozone days: #15 most polluted metropolitan area
MARELBU // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Chico, California
Businesses in downtown Chico.
– Annual particle pollution: #9 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #6 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #20 most polluted metropolitan area
Dreamframer // Shutterstock
#8. Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix at dusk.
– Annual particle pollution: #8 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #11 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #5 most polluted metropolitan area
Canva
#7. Fairbanks, Alaska
Snow-covered streets in Fairbanks with buildings in the background.
– Annual particle pollution: #7 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #3 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
You may also like: How driving is subsidized in America
Ahturner // Shutterstock
#6. Medford, Oregon
Medford view from Roxy Ann.
– Annual particle pollution: #6 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #21 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: Not ranked in top 25 most polluted metropolitan areas
Canva
#5. Los Angeles
A smoggy Los Angeles in the distance.
– Annual particle pollution: #5 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #8 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #1 most polluted metropolitan area
Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
#4. San Jose, California
Drone photo of sunset over downtown San Jose.
– Annual particle pollution: #4 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #4 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #13 most polluted metropolitan area
Matt Gush // Shutterstock
#2 (tie). Fresno, California
Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno.
– Annual particle pollution: #2 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #1 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #4 most polluted metropolitan area
Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock
#2 (tie). Visalia, California
Aerial of downtown Visalia during spring.
– Annual particle pollution: #2 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #9 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #3 most polluted metropolitan area
You may also like: 20 influential Indigenous Americans you might not know about
Canva
#1. Bakersfield, California
A view of a suburban area of Bakersfield from a distance.
– Annual particle pollution: #1 most polluted metropolitan area
– High 24-hour particle pollution days: #2 most polluted metropolitan area
– High ozone days: #2 most polluted metropolitan area
