25 Most Polluted Cities in the US in 2017

Do you know which are the most polluted cities in the US in 2017?

If you are deciding where to live, besides the beauty of the place and wide opportunities, do you also consider the quality of air? Air pollution seems to be among the top environmental issues. It affects not only health of the citizens, but the planet as well.

One of the most air polluted city in the world is considered to be Zabol in Iran. This city basically looks like a cloud of dust, which is considered to be a meteorological phenomenon. Zabol has a problem with dust storms which are filled with particles that can damage human lungs in a matter of hours. When it comes to other top polluted cities in the world, the list is long, and some of them are Onitsha in Nigeria, where petrol stations, rubbish dumps, and fuels spills are on every step, as well as a number of cities in India, Saudi Arabia, and China.

If we look at the pollution in the United States in 2016, we can see that more than one in two people had unhealthy air quality in their communities, according to the report of American Lung Association for that precise year. Moreover, if we think on the level of states, many suggestions show that California is the most in harm. So, we wondered why is California so polluted? One of the opinions suggests that its geographical position is the main reason. The Central Valley in California is surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges, so it acts as a pool of pollutants produced by the region’s residents, its industry, and its large agricultural community. In addition, it is also a growing population center.

In order to see if the most polluted cities in the US are based in California, we did our research. First, we took suggestions from the American Lung Association that analyzed every city in the US by pollution made due to daily ozone presence, year-round particle pollution and by short-term particle pollution. We took 25 cities that are most polluted by the presence of ozone as it’s the most harmful to humans. Then, we checked carbon dioxide emissions data on the U.S. Energy Information Administration website, for each state of those mentioned cities. We wanted to determine the most polluted states in the US when it comes to the carbon dioxide emissions. As for the final ranking — first, we lined up the states according to the carbon dioxide emissions data and then we grouped the cities mentioned above according to the state they belong. Finally, we ranked cities according to the ozone rate within each state. This way we combined the pollution data for both carbon dioxide emissions and ozone presence. Moreover, as some people connect pollution with the dirtiness of cities, we recommend you to read about the 16 Dirtiest Cities in America to see if there are any correlations.

In order to see the list of most polluted cities in the US in 2017, just click on Next.

25. Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ

Out of 288 metropolitan areas, Las Vegas is ranked 10th for the high ozone days. Moreover, it is 37th on the list for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 43rd for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. The number of people with lung cancer is 1,367.

24. Hartford-West Hartford, CT

This city is also ranked 72nd for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 148th out of 184 metropolitan areas for annual particle pollution. Moreover, there are approximately 935 people that are suffering from lung cancer and 123,794 that have adult asthma. The total population of the city is, however, more than 1.4 million.

23. Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT

Salt Lake City is ranked 7th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas, and it is in the 86th place for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. Besides, a number of people that have the problem with adult asthma are 154,727, while there are 653 persons with lung cancer.

22. Fort Collins, CO

Fort Collins is next in line on our list of most polluted cities in the US in 2017. It is one of the most polluted cities in the US for this year as it is ranked 46th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 158th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan area. Moreover, there are 141 people that deal with lung cancer and more than 20,000 with adult asthma.

21. Denver-Aurora, CO

A number of people with lung cancer is 1,452, while a lot more (precisely 237,472) suffer from adult asthma. Denver-Aurora is ranked 30th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 131st for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas.

20. Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ

In this area, there is a big number of people who are suffering from lung cancer (2,232). Moreover, more than 300,000 people have adult asthma. That is one of the reasons why Phoenix is ranked 24th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 47th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas.

19. Sheboygan, WI

Out of a total number of population, 1,916 of them have a problem with pediatric asthma and 8,640 with adult asthma. Moreover, 69 persons have lung cancer. The city is located in the western part of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Sheboygan River.

18. New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA

This metropolitan area is ranked 28th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 22nd for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. Moreover, there are 14,302 people that are suffering from lung cancer and more than 1.7 million who have the problem with adult asthma.

17. Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Twenty-second on our list of most polluted cities in the US in 2017 is Philadelphia. Besides the ozone ranking, it is 20th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and on 11th place for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. Out of more than 7 million people, 4,604 are dealing with lung cancer.

16. Chico, CA

Up next in our list of most polluted cities in the US in 2017 is Chico, that is the most populous city in Butte County, California with an estimated population of 225,000. It has a nickname “City of Roses.” It is ranked 25th for high ozone days out of 228 metropolitan areas, then 38th out of 186 metropolitan areas for 24-hour particle pollution, and finally, it is on 68th place for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas.

15. Baton Rouge, CA

Besides the high ozone days, Baton Rouge is ranked 72 for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 95 for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. Moreover, out of around 830,000 people, 17,302 have a problem with pediatric asthma and 51, 764 with adult asthma. Lung cancer is present in 579 persons.

14. San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA

On the 18th place on our list of the most polluted cities in the US in 2017 is the area of San Jose-San Francisco and Oakland. It is ranked 6th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan area, while for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas it is 4th. A number of people dealing with lung cancer is 3,778.

13. Redding-Red Bluff, CA

Besides the ozone ranking (17th), this metropolitan area is ranked 66th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 170th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. Moreover, it is estimated there is 105 of those who are dealing with lung cancer and 14,770 of those with adult asthma.

12. El Centro, CA

In this city that ranks 12th in our list of most polluted cities in the US in 2017, there is 3,652 out of total population who are dealing with pediatric asthma and 9,933 with adult one. Moreover, besides the ranking for the ozone days, which is 14th, El Centro is ranked 11th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 7th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas.

11. Sacramento-Roseville, CA

Besides the measuring of the high ozone days, this metropolitan is 14th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 39th for annual particle pollution out of a total of 184 metropolitan areas. In addition, a lot of people have the problem with breathing. More than 150,000 are suffering from adult asthma, and 1,101 have lung cancer.

10. San Diego-Carlsbad, CA

Out of 288 metropolitan areas, San Diego-Carlsbad is ranked 7th on our list of the most polluted cities in the US in 2017 based on the high ozone days. On the other hand, it is ranked 34th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 47th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. Also, 1,432 people are fighting lung cancer.

9. Modesto-Merced, CA

Modesto-Merced is ranked 4th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 6th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. In addition, 350 people have lung cancer.

8. Visalia-Porterville-Hanford, CA

Up next in our list of most polluted cities in the US in 2017 is Visalia-Porterville-Hanford, which is ranked 2nd for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas, while 1st for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan area. In addition, this area has a total of 265 people who are dealing with lung cancer and 32,578 who suffer from adult asthma.

7. Fresno-Madera, CA

Among the top worst cities when it comes to air pollution is Fresno-Madera, the number 7 in our list of most polluted cities in the US in 2017. It is ranked 2nd for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 3rd for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. As a consequence, there is 489 of those with lung cancer and 62,047 of those with adult asthma.

6. Bakersfield, CA

A number of people who suffer from adult asthma in this city is abnormal (47,776), having in mind that total population is a little more than 880,000. The city is ranked 1st for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 2nd for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas.

5. Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA

Fifth on our list of the most polluted cities in the US in 2017 is Los Angeles! Besides being 1st for the high ozone days, it is ranked 9th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 5th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. A number of people suffering from lung cancer is 8,096.

4. El Paso-Las Cruces, TX-NM

Out of 186 metropolitan areas, El Paso – Las Cruces is ranked 28th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 51st for annual particle pollution out of 184 in the total of metropolitan areas. In addition, a number of people who have lung cancer is 537, while adult asthma is present in 61,858 persons.

3. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK

Dallas-Fort Worth is ranked 13th for the ozone days out of 228 metropolitan areas which makes it one of the most polluted areas in the US. In addition, it is ranked 72nd for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 39th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. The number of people with lung cancer is estimated to be 4,071.

 2. San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX

Even though San Antonio is ranked 19th for the ozone, it is on the other hand 1st on the list for the cleanest metropolitan areas in the country for 24-hour particle pollution. Moreover, it is 107th on the list for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan area. A number of people with lung cancer is significant, but the number of adult asthma is much bigger — 134,762.

1. Houston-The Woodlands, TX

On the top of our list of the most polluted cities in the US in 2017 is Houston-The Woodlands! Besides our ranking, Houston-The Woodlands is ranked 49th for 24-hour particle pollution out of 186 metropolitan areas and 16th for annual particle pollution out of 184 metropolitan areas. Moreover, there is a huge number of people with adult asthma (382,312) and 3,705 with lung cancer.