10 Most Polluted Cities in America

Below you can find the list of 10 most polluted cities in America. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list of cities please see this article.

10.Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

PM 2.5 – 11.9

PM 10 – 108

Health problems related to pollution are prevalent in the region. Particle pollution remains at high levels all year round. 

9.Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI

PM 2.5 – 12.1

PM 10 – 89

The region experienced moderate or unhealthy for sensitive groups 226 days per year in 2018, however, also recorded 137 days of good air quality. 

8. Pittsburgh, PA

PM 2.5 – 12.1

PM 10 – 86

Pittsbugh has ranked among the worst regions for air quality by American Lung Association. Many areas in the region perform poorly in the annual daily soot and ozone levels. 

7.Hanford-Corcoran, CA

PM 2.5 – 12.2

PM 10 – 469

The high levels of ozone and particulate matter in the air are quite concerning in the region. Drought and rising temperature have contributed to these detrimental levels. 

6. Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN

PM 2.5 – 12.6

PM 10 – 57

Smog situation has shown a worsening trend in Indianapolis and the region has experienced more days of high ozone pollution in 2018 compared to 2017. Though particle pollution has slightly dipped in the recent past. 

5. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

PM 2.5 – 12.8

PM 10 – 243

Air pollution situation looks quite grim in the region and pollution related deaths are also quite high. Unrelenting smog is often a major concern. 

4. Visalia-Porterville, CA

PM 2.5 – 12.9

PM 10 – 284

Smog pollution is a chronic problem in the region. According to the 2019 report by the American Lung Association , the region is the second most smog affected after Los Angeles. 

3. Bakersfield, CA

PM 2.5 – 13

PM 10 – 382

Air quality remain unhealthy on an average which makes Bakerfield, one of the most polluted cities in the US. 

2. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA

PM 2.5 – 13.7

PM 10 – 153

Ozone pollution levels in San Diego-Carlsbad region is quite the cause of concern. The number of high ozone days has drastically grown by almost 45% since 2015. 

1. Fairbanks, AK

PM 2.5 – 15.5

PM 10 – 200

Surprisingly even with lower ozone level, overall pollution levels are detrimentally high in the Fairbanks. The main cause of pollution in the region is due to high numbers of woodfire burning in the winters. The high levels of particle pollution unfortunately earns Fairbanks the no.1 spot for the most polluted cities in the US. 

See also 25 most polluted cities in the U.S. in 2017 and 11 least polluted countries in the world.