(Click for a note on ranking*)
Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Short-term Particle Pollution (24-Hour PM2.5)
Rank |
Metropolitan Area |
1 |
LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-RIVERSIDE, CA |
2 |
FRESNO-MADERA, CA |
3 |
BAKERSFIELD, CA |
4 |
PITTSBURGH-NEW CASTLE, PA |
5 |
EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD, OR |
6 |
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER-CULLMAN, AL |
6 |
SALT LAKE CITY-OGDEN-CLEARFIELD, UT |
8 |
SACRAMENTO-ARDEN-ARCADE-TRUCKEE, CA-NV |
9 |
VISALIA-PORTERVILLE, CA |
10 |
CLEVELAND-AKRON-ELYRIA, OH |
11 |
MODESTO, CA |
12 |
HANFORD-CORCORAN, CA |
12 |
CHICAGO-NAPERVILLE-MICHIGAN CITY, IL-IN-WI |
12 |
DETROIT-WARREN-FLINT, MI |
15 |
SAN JOSE-SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND, CA |
16 |
SAN DIEGO-CARLSBAD-SAN MARCOS, CA |
17 |
CINCINNATI-MIDDLETOWN-WILMINGTON, OH-KY-IN |
18 |
WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-NORTHERN VIRGINIA, DC-MD-VA-WV |
18 |
PROVO-OREM, UT |
20 |
LOUISVILLE-ELIZABETHTOWN-SCOTTSBURG, KY-IN |
21 |
WEIRTON-STEUBENVILLE, WV-OH |
22 |
SEATTLE-TACOMA-OLYMPIA, WA |
23 |
MERCED, CA |
23 |
MEDFORD, OR |
23 |
HARRISBURG-CARLISLE-LEBANON, PA |
Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution(Annual PM2.5)
Rank |
Metropolitan Areas |
1 |
LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-RIVERSIDE, CA |
2 |
VISALIA-PORTERVILLE, CA |
3 |
BAKERSFIELD, CA |
4 |
FRESNO-MADERA, CA |
5 |
PITTSBURGH-NEW CASTLE, PA |
6 |
DETROIT-WARREN-FLINT, MI |
7 |
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-GAINESVILLE, GA |
8 |
CLEVELAND-AKRON-ELYRIA, OH |
9 |
HANFORD-CORCORAN, CA |
9 |
BIRMINGHAM-HOOVER-CULLMAN, AL |
11 |
CINCINNATI-MIDDLETOWN-WILMINGTON, OH-KY-IN |
12 |
KNOXVILLE-SEVIERVILLE-LA FOLLETTE, TN |
13 |
WEIRTON-STEUBENVILLE, WV-OH |
14 |
CHICAGO-NAPERVILLE-MICHIGAN CITY, IL-IN-WI |
15 |
CANTON-MASSILLON, OH |
16 |
CHARLESTON, WV |
17 |
MODESTO, CA |
18 |
NEW YORK-NEWARK-BRIDGEPORT, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
18 |
MERCED, CA |
20 |
ST. LOUIS-ST. CHARLES-FARMINGTON, MO-IL |
21 |
WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-NORTHERN VIRGINIA, DC-MD-VA-WV |
22 |
LOUISVILLE-ELIZABETHTOWN-SCOTTSBURG, KY-IN |
22 |
HUNTINGTON-ASHLAND, WV-KY-OH |
24 |
YORK-HANOVER-GETTYSBURG, PA |
24 |
LANCASTER, PA |
24 |
COLUMBUS-MARION-CHILLICOTHE, OH |
Top 25 Cleanest Cities for Year-Round Particle Pollution (Annual PM2.5)
Rank |
Metropolitan Area |
1 |
SANTA FE-ESPANOLA, NM |
2 |
HONOLULU, HI |
3 |
CHEYENNE, WY |
4 |
GREAT FALLS, MT |
5 |
FARMINGTON, NM |
5 |
ANCHORAGE, AK |
5 |
ALBUQUERQUE, NM |
8 |
BISMARCK, ND |
9 |
KENNEWICK-RICHLAND-PASCO, WA |
10 |
LUBBOCK-LEVELLAND, TX |
10 |
BILLINGS, MT |
12 |
IDAHO FALLS-BLACKFOOT, ID |
13 |
GRAND JUNCTION, CO |
13 |
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO |
15 |
BELLINGHAM, WA |
16 |
RAPID CITY, SD |
16 |
FARGO-WAHPETON, ND-MN |
18 |
PUEBLO, CA |
19 |
FORT COLLINS-LOVELAND, CO |
20 |
SALEM, OR |
21 |
DULUTH, MN-WI |
21 |
ALBANY-CORVALLIS-LEBANON, OR |
23 |
SALINAS, CA |
24 |
CAPE CORAL-FORT MYERS, FL |
25 |
PORT ST. LUCIE-FORT PIERCE, FL |
Top 25 Cleanest U.S. Counties for Year-Round Particle Pollution (Annual PM2.5)
Rank |
County |
1 |
ELBERT, CO |
2 |
MAUI, HI |
3 |
SANTA FE, NM |
3 |
HONOLULU, HI |
3 |
SANDOVAL, NM |
6 |
LARAMIE, WY |
7 |
LA PLATA, CO |
8 |
BURKE, ND |
9 |
VILAS, WI |
10 |
GRANT, NM |
10 |
CASCADE, MT |
10 |
MATANUSKA-SUSITNA, AK |
10 |
MERCER, ND |
14 |
SCOTTS BLUFF, NE |
14 |
JUNEAU, AK |
14 |
HANCOCK, ME |
17 |
CAMPBELL, WY |
18 |
SAN JUAN, NM |
18 |
ANCHORAGE, AK |
18 |
BERNALILLO, NM |
18 |
ESSEX, NY |
22 |
COLUMBIA, OR |
22 |
GUNNISON, CO |
22 |
SANDERS, MT |
25 |
BURLEIGH, ND |
Top 26 U.S. Counties Most Polluted by Annual Particle Pollution (Annual PM2.5)
Rank |
County |
1 |
RIVERSIDE, CA |
2 |
SAN BERNARDINO, CA |
3 |
LOS ANGELES, CA |
4 |
TULARE, CA |
5 |
KERN, CA |
6 |
FRESNO, CA |
7 |
ALLEGHENY, PA |
8 |
ORANGE, CA |
9 |
WAYNE, MI |
10 |
FULTON, GA |
11 |
CUYAHOGA, OH |
12 |
KINGS, CA |
12 |
JEFFERSON, AL |
14 |
HAMILTON, OH |
15 |
KNOX, TN |
16 |
JEFFERSON, OH |
17 |
COOK, IL |
18 |
STARK, OH |
19 |
KANAWHA, WV |
20 |
STANISLAUS, CA |
20 |
LAKE, IN |
22 |
NEW YORK, NY |
22 |
MERCED, CA |
24 |
HANCOCK, WV |
24 |
MADISON, IL |
24 |
SCIOTO, OH |
Cleanest U.S. Cities for Ozone Air Pollution (alphabetically)
Metropolitan Area |
Population |
AMES-BOONE, IA |
106,816 |
BELLINGHAM, WA |
174,362 |
BROWNSVILLE-HARLINGEN-RAYMONDVILLE, TX |
373,551 |
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO |
565,404 |
DULUTH, MN-WI |
276,298 |
EUGENE-SPRINGFIELD, OR |
326,666 |
FARGO-WAHPETON, ND-MN |
201,602 |
FLAGSTAFF, AZ |
120,295 |
GREELEY, CO |
205,014 |
HONOLULU, HI |
896,019 |
LAREDO, TX |
207,611 |
LINCOLN, NE |
274,178 |
LOGAN, UT-ID |
105,394 |
MEDFORD, OR |
186,430 |
MOUNT VERNON-ANACORTES, WA |
106,906 |
RENO-SPARKS, NV |
365,748 |
SALEM, OR |
357,812 |
SALINAS, CA |
413,408 |
SAN LUIS OBISPO-PASO ROBLES, CA |
253,408 |
SIOUX FALLS, SD |
194,654 |
SPOKANE, WA |
427,506 |
TALLAHASSEE, FL |
327,869 |
Metropolitan Areas with the Worst Ozone Air Pollution
Rank |
Metropolitan Statistical Areas |
1 |
LOS ANGELES-RIVERSIDE-ORANGE COUNTY, CA |
2 |
FRESNO, CA |
3 |
BAKERSFIELD, CA |
4 |
VISALIA- -PORTERVILLE, CA |
5 |
HOUSTON-BAYTOWN-HUNTSVILLE, TX CMSA |
6 |
MERCED, CA |
7 |
SACRAMENTO-ARDEN-ARCADE--TRUCKEE, CA-NV |
8 |
HANFORD-CORCORAN, CA |
9 |
KNOXVILLE-SEVIERVILLE-LA FOLLETTE, TN |
10 |
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX CMSA |
11 |
WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-NORTHERN VIRGINIA, DC-MD-VA-WV |
12 |
PHILADELPHIA-WILMINGTON-ATLANTIC CITY, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSA |
13 |
NEW YORK-NEWARK-BRIDGEPORT, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
14 |
CHARLOTTE-GASTONIA-SALISBURY, NC-SC |
15 |
CLEVELAND-AKRON-ELYRIA, OH |
16 |
GREENSBORO--WINSTON-SALEM--HIGH POINT, NC |
17 |
PITTSBURGH-NEW CASTLE, PA |
18 |
PHOENIX-MESA-SCOTTSDALE, AZ |
18 |
SAN DIEGO,-CARLSBAD-SAN MARCOSCA |
20 |
MODESTO, CA |
21 |
ATLANTA-SANDY SPRINGS-GAINSVILLE, GA |
22 |
MORRISTOWN-NEWPORT, TN |
23 |
RALEIGH-DURHAM-CARY, NC |
23 |
LANCASTER, PA |
25 |
SHEBOYGAN, WI |
Counties with the Worst Ozone Air Pollution*
County |
2004 Rank |
2003 Rank |
2002 Rank |
2001 Rank |
2000 Rank |
SAN BERNARDINO, CA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
FRESNO, CA |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
KERN, CA |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
RIVERSIDE, CA |
4 |
5 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
TULARE, CA |
5 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
LOS ANGELES, CA |
6 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
5 |
HARRIS, TX |
7 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
MERCED, CA |
8 |
9 |
9 |
23 |
16 |
EL DORADO, CA |
9 |
8 |
14 |
18 |
17 |
KINGS, CA |
10 |
10 |
11 |
21 |
9 |
SEVIER, TN |
11 |
12 |
10 |
12 |
19 |
NEVADA, CA |
12 |
13 |
28 |
50 |
35 |
SACRAMENTO, CA |
12 |
14 |
20 |
33 |
20 |
TARRANT, TX |
14 |
19 |
37 |
46 |
46 |
HARFORD, MD |
15 |
25 |
50 |
30 |
32 |
CAMDEN, NJ |
16 |
24 |
27 |
16 |
21 |
VENTURA, CA |
17 |
15 |
21 |
14 |
7 |
ANNE ARUNDEL, MD |
17 |
18 |
15 |
10 |
11 |
OCEAN, NJ |
17 |
29 |
38 |
28 |
24 |
ROWAN, NC |
20 |
16 |
22 |
19 |
31 |
FAIRFIELD, CT |
21 |
29 |
61 |
34 |
39 |
MECKLENBURG, NC |
22 |
19 |
12 |
11 |
12 |
PLACER, CA |
23 |
17 |
31 |
60 |
37 |
CECIL, MD |
24 |
29 |
40 |
41 |
40 |
GLOUCESTER, NJ |
25 |
47 |
65 |
43 |
44 |
Counties Eliminated from the Top 25 Most Ozone-Polluted List (between State of the Air 2003 and 2004)
County |
2003 Rank |
2003 Grade |
2004 Rank |
2004 Grade |
FULTON, GA |
11 |
F |
51 |
F |
DEKALB, GA |
21 |
F |
52 |
F |
HENRY, GA |
22 |
F |
57 |
F |
ROCKDALE, GA |
22 |
F |
121 |
F |
* In 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau published revised definitions for the nation's Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Therefore, comparisons between MSAs of previous reports and State of the Air: 2004 should be made with caution.
** Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, and Washington adopted shorter ozone seasons. Kentucky and Tennessee adopted longer ozone seasons. These analyses use the revised season data for all three years. No grades were affected by the difference in season length, but comparisons with weighted averages and, therefore, rankings may be slightly affected.
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