Rankings

(Click for a note on ranking^*)

Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Short-term Particle Pollution
Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution
Top 25 Cleanest Cities for Year-Round Particle Pollution
Top 25 Cleanest U.S. Counties for Year-Round Particle Pollution
Top 26 U.S. Counties Most Polluted by Annual Particle Pollution
Cleanest U.S. Cities for Ozone Air Pollution (alphabetically)
Metropolitan Areas with the Worst Ozone Air Pollution
Counties with the Worst Ozone Air Pollution
Counties Eliminated from the Top 25 Most Ozone-Polluted List

Metropolitan Areas Most Polluted by Short-term Particle Pollution (24-Hour PM_2.5)

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 PM_2.5)

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 PM_2.5)

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 PM_2.5)

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 PM_2.5)

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.

The mission of the American Lung Association is to prevent lung disease and promote lung health.
Click here to contact a Local Lung Association in your area or call 1-800-LUNGUSA.

The information contained in this American Lung Association® web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and the American Lung Association recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional.

© 2004 American Lung Association®. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.