Despite the EPA’s efforts, many cities around the U.S. still put our respiratory health at risk. We’ve compiled a list of 17 cities with some of the highest levels of air pollution that people with certain medical conditions or those who prefer to be cautious should definitely avoid.
Fresno, California
Fresno is affected by pollution from agricultural activities and vehicle emissions. The city’s limited rainfall increases the concentration of pollutant matter. In addition, Fresno’s frequent temperature inversion problems keep pollutants trapped closer to the ground for longer periods too.
Phoenix, Arizona
Arizona residents experience dust storms, which contribute to particulate matter, and they also destroy their own air through vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Factors like dirt roads and construction work are also at play here, and the intensely hot climate of Arizona makes its ozone pollution a whole lot worse.
San Bernardino, California
The California Air Resources Board reveals that the air quality in San Bernadino is majorly affected by railyards and freight activities in warehouses. The city also experiences frequent temperature inversions, which worsen its particulate pollution. In 2020, 20% of days were said to have unhealthy air quality levels.
Houston, Texas
Houston is an American petrochemical hotspot (oil and gas are its largest industries), and this spells trouble. Activities in this industry have contributed largely to its ozone pollution and depletion. Vehicular emissions, alongside the city’s subtropical climate, don’t make matters any better.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
The pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is so bad that residents experience up to 106 days of unhealthy air quality per year. The city is a victim of its rapid urban growth, as industrial activities and vehicle emissions have kept it outside EPA safety limits since 1996.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas has constant population growth, which means that its ozone levels have also been constantly (and increasingly) battered by related industrial and vehicular activities. Factors like the city’s minimal rainfall, sparse vegetation, and high temperatures contribute to its poor air quality.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittusburgh’s steel industry has been its downfall when it comes to air quality. This is so much so that, according to Yale, the city’s atmosphere got so bad in 2022 that its steel manufacturing center got the nickname “City of Smoke.” It’s one of the worst places to live if you have respiratory health conditions.
Los Angeles California
The high level of vehicular emissions and industrial activities has contributed greatly to Los Angeles’ ozone pollution. Wildfires are also major concerns in LA, and residents shouldn’t be surprised to receive frequent warnings about dangerous, health-damaging smog approaching.
Modesto, California
California’s Modesto is said to be generally safe for regular individuals, but sensitive groups like people with lung disease, the elderly, and pregnant women may develop complications from long-term exposure. Modesto’s air quality typically starts deteriorating around October and is at its worst during winter.
Sacramento, California
Our fifth city in California, Sacramento, is a victim of thermal inversions and unfavorable wind patterns, which contribute to its agriculture-related particulate pollution. The mountains surrounding the city make this pollution even worse, and there have been episodes that were so bad that schools had to be shut down.
Denver, Colorado
The NOAA tells us that “Denver has some known, large sources of air pollution that are outside the city boundaries, like agriculture, oil and gas production, and wildfires.” The city’s residents are equally exposed to pollutants from these activities, and its rapid urban growth means this won’t change anytime soon.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Even though Utah has laws banning coal and wooden stoves, there are still many days when Salt Lake City’s air quality is pretty bad. This can be harmful to sensitive groups like children, the elderly, and people with lung and heart diseases. It gets worse during the winter when there are typically inversions trapping pollutants.
Chicago, Illinois
There are reports that Chicago’s annual concentration of particulate matter is over four times the recommended global levels. Chicago’s transport emissions, due to suburbanization,
have been on a worrying rise over the years, and the city’s major seaports and airports contribute to its industrial pollution.
El Paso, Texas
In El Paso, pollution is so bad that residents tell the Guardian that “you can taste it.” El Paso is a popular point of entry along the U.S. border, and the massive numbers of idling vehicles—especially trucks—are the main contributor to its pollution. The cancer risks in neighborhoods close to the border are also rated to be over the 95th percentile.
St. Louis, Missouri
Climate change is the major contributor to St. Louis’ poor air quality. Temperatures are increasing the occurrence of wildfires and floods (leaving mold), which, in turn, release more harmful particulate matter into the air. The city’s power plants are also sources of ozone pollution that residents have to deal with.
Bakersfield, California
The air in Bakersfield is particularly affected by its agricultural industry, as related activities release pesticides and dust into the air. What makes it even worse (and is the reason why Bakersfield is ranked as U.S. News’ most polluted city) is that it has a dry climate and, being a low-lying geographical area is surrounded by mountains, which trap pollutants.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit’s air problem results from its many heavy factory facilities powered by coal. Although the city is plagued with particulate matter all year, air quality gets even worse during Michigan’s ozone season between March and October. The city is also prone to smog, which is caused by cross-border wildfires in Canada.
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