Air quality is an issue everyone shares. What you breathe has a huge impact on your health, especially if you have a health condition such as asthma or allergies. A recent study by the American Lung Association found that 4 out of 10 Americans live in unhealthy areas where air pollution persists.
Here's a look at the top 5 U.S. cities with the worst air pollution.
1. Bakersfield, California
The National Ambient Air Quality Standard considers a score above 12 to be failing. Bakersfield's score for year-round levels of particle pollution (PM2.5) in the United States was 16.9 for 2017-2019. Out of 225 metropolitan areas across the nation, Bakersfield ranked number 2 for ozone and number 3 for short-term particle pollution. The population of about 900,000 includes nearly 70,000 children and adults who suffer from asthma. A major reason why Bakersfield has poor air quality is due to the presence of high-emission industries including agriculture.
2. Fresno, California
The Fresno-Madera-Hanford area scored 15.7 for year-round particle pollution, making it unhealthy air quality. Like Bakersfield, Fresno got high pollution scores in all three of the American Lung Association's main categories for evaluating air quality. By ozone, it ranked number 4 and by short-term particle pollution, it ranked number 2. Fresno is in a valley surrounded by mountains that trap emissions, resulting in overall poor air quality.
3. Visalia, California
The city of Visalia sits between Bakersfield and Fresno with a PM2.5 score of 15.5. Visalia also ranks high in the two other pollution categories. Residential wood burning is one of the key contributing factors to this unhealthy air quality. People can be adversely affected by the ground-level ozone layer. Another reason for high levels of air pollution in Visalia is it's located on Highway 99, which is constantly busy with big trucks making deliveries.
4. Los Angeles, California
The Los Angeles-Long Beach area is home to busy ocean shipping ports and congested freeways that deliver a failing score of 14. The combination of massive manufacturing and vehicle emissions gives the area high scores on the poor air quality lists. Wildfire smoke can also be a big contributor to pollution in the summer. As with other large metropolitan areas, LA and Long Beach have high concentrations of nitrogen oxide (NOx) from vehicle emissions mixed with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from petroleum and other substances. These pollutants further add to health problems.
5. Medford, Oregon
The Medford-Grants Pass scored 13.8 in the American Lung Association study. While auto and industrial emissions are part of the problem, the main reason for poor air quality in the region is wildfire smoke. Medford doesn't have as much of a high ozone problem but ranked 15 for short-term particle pollution. Out of a population of roughly 300,000 about 10 percent of children and adults suffer from asthma.
Other Cities with Poor Air Quality
- Fairbanks, Alaska
- San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- El Centro, California
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Detroit, Michigan
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Chicago, Illinois
- McAllen, Texas
Dangers of Air Pollution
Roughly 91 percent of the global population lives in zones where air quality fails to meet limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). It's dangerous to breathe ozone, as it can irritate the lungs and cause inflammation. Exposure to particle pollution can lead to lung cancer, strokes, heart attack, and early death. Tiny particles much smaller than human hair can get into the lungs and cause damage.
Individuals with existing health conditions can be extremely vulnerable to the effects of outdoor and indoor air pollutants, which can make poor health conditions worse. Pregnant women are at risk when exposed to ozone and particle pollution, as it can reduce the birth weight of the child. People who exercise such as go jogging outdoors in a polluted environment have an increased risk of suffering an illness.
Air pollution can particularly be harmful to people with asthma. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), ozone can trigger asthma attacks. It irritates the lungs and airways, making it harder for asthma patients to breathe deeply. You can stay up to date on pollution levels in your area by visiting AirNOw.gov.
Conclusion
America has many cities with poor air quality, as some of the worst are located in heavily populated metros in the western states. Highway systems attract massive traffic that generates greenhouse gas emissions mixed with similar pollutants from factories and agricultural facilities. People breathe other harmful chemicals as well in large metropolitan areas. The public must become more educated about air quality so that people are more vocal about air quality on a community level.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.