Cleanliness should be a priority for these 16 dirtiest cities in America. Pollution continues to be a problem for some places in the world. Some cities have people who lack discipline that causes a lot of trash being thrown around. Some places also aren’t that fond of maintenance, which is one of the reasons why places and objects become dilapidated. There are also some other factors that contribute to how dirty a city can be. Excessive air pollution through industry and cars can result in the dirtier air. Also, pollution from different sources can contaminate water. This is one of the reasons we have cleanliness and purification centers trying their best to make our situation manageable despite the pollution we are responsible for.
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America is such a large country that it is especially difficult to manage even if the country is divided into states and cities. Admittedly the country still experiences its share of dirt and it will probably take a collective effort to improve the surroundings. Likewise, this problem is shared by different countries and different cities around the world. You’ll see some of them in our list of Top 7 Dirtiest Cities in the World. Hopefully, this list can give light to some problems and help people be aware of them.
It will be difficult to rank this cities based on how dirty they are because there many factors to consider. For one, there are different forms of pollution, light, noise, water, air, land, etc. We can’t really put a measurable average for each of these cities. What we can do, however, is tally how many major sources of pollution there are in each city. Let’s find out more as we tackle the 16 dirtiest cities in America:
16. Cleveland, OH
Major Causes of Pollution: 1 (Heavy Industry)
Cleveland has been actively pursuing ways to improve its environment and become self-sustaining. The problem is that it is a center for heavy industries and has been for many years polluted by different contaminants. The soil, according to tests, is filled with traces of different harmful metals, and it might take a while before Cleveland can remove all the negative effects of its past.
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15. Bakersfield, CA
Major Causes of Pollution: 1 (Oil Industry)
Bakersfield is the place in California that’s surrounded by a lot of oil industries. As such, particulates and pollution created by these facilities make Bakersfield the worst air polluted city in America. These contaminants are known to affect the environment causing the city to be in a constant humid state due to dust.
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14. San Jose, CA
Major Causes of Pollution: 2 (Traffic Congestion, Computer Industry)
Life is good at San Jose despite the heavy traffic the city experiences from time to time. However, one of the biggest pollutants in the city is caused by the thriving computer industry. Various solvents have been leaked in the soil, and because the city is enclosed by water, blockages often occur due to dumping in water. Many organizations have made an effort to lessen and prevent these problems.
13. Visalia, CA
Major Causes of Pollution: 2 (Traffic Congestion, Manufacturing Industry)
Another city in California that suffers from intense air contamination and pollution is Visalia. Trees there are few and far between in the city. This makes compensating from the air pollution very difficult as the traffic and industries located here create a lot of smog. The city isn’t advised for those who have respiratory problems or diseases.
12. New York, NY
Major Causes of Pollution: 3 (High Population Density, Toxic Waste from Factories, Oil Spill)
New York is one of the most populated cities in the country, and the population density is extremely high. The good news is that due to the transportation system in New York air pollution remains relatively low. The rivers and waters in the city are also well maintained. However, there are places in New York that are filled with toxic sludge, and the Greenpoint Oil Spill of the past have contaminated the city’s groundwater.
11. Riverside, CA
Major Causes of Pollution: 3 (Manufacturing Companies, Water Dumping, Traffic Congestion)
You might notice a lack of clean air and water in Riverside. This is because years ago, different manufacturing companies and factories have contaminated a lot of areas. Water nearby is contaminated, costing the city to get water from elsewhere. Air pollution is also a problem that’s why the city maintains a website for awareness of this fact. A lot of these substances in the air are carcinogenic, which is why this kind of pollution is very dangerous.
10. New Haven, CN
Major Causes of Pollution: 3 (Traffic Congestion, Improper Sewage Disposal, Chemical Dumps)
Many people can testify to the beauties of New Haven. However, the city experiences problems that make it one of the dirtiest cities in the country. New Haven is a convergence zone for traffic between New York and Boston. As a result, air quality has been low, and the city has been named as one of the most air polluted in the region. Sewage and other chemical dumps also fill the waters and a lot of people may not be aware of that. One should take care when eating seafood in the area even with the city being a hub for delicious seafood.
9. Detroit, MI
Major Causes of Pollution: 3 (Automotive Industry, Abandoned Facilities, Lack of Funding for Cleanliness)
Efforts to clean up Detroit may be near hopeless. The automotive industry in the city contributes to a large amount of the pollution in both the air and water. A lot of buildings and places are also very old and abandoned leaving them to decay and pollute. Mix in the fact of the recent bankruptcy and the highest murder rate in the country then you’ll probably need a plethora of solutions before anything else moves forward.
8. Milwaukee, WI
Major Causes of Pollution: 3 (Heavy Industry, Lake Dumping, Traffic Congestion)
One of the main industries in the largest city in Wisconsin is the heavy industry, contributing to pollution in different areas of the Milwaukee. Lake Michigan remains as a hazard and danger to citizens that fish and water may prove deadly. As such the government has put heavy restrictions on how much one can eat from the lake. The city is also one of the dirtiest in terms of air pollution and chemicals and dust can be tasted from the air despite the wind bought about by the nearby lake.
There are more polluted cities to see as we continue this list of 16 dirtiest cities in America.
7. Houston, TX
Major Causes of Pollution: 4 (Oil Industry, Traffic Congestion, Cattle Industry, Processing Industry)
Houston is an oil center for the entire country and millions of gallons are refined from the city each year. These refinements contribute to chemicals in the environment. It is also one of the largest cities in North America and the high rate of vehicle congestion here contributes to air pollution heavily. Texas is also a center for the cattle industry, and processing of meat involves a lot of chemicals aside from the pollution that these large animals already cause naturally.
6. Philadelphia, PA
Major Causes of Pollution: 4 (River Dumping, Traffic Congestion, Abandoned Buildings, Abandoned Neighborhoods)
The Delaware River near Philadelphia is considered as one of the dirtiest rivers in America. Philadelphia also does no favors by heavily contributing to other aspects when it comes to pollution. The city is heavily congested, and a lot of air pollution is released daily. There are also tens of thousands of abandoned homes and neighborhoods meaning that some areas in the city are left with neglect and trash fill those streets from every corner.
5. Baton Rouge, LA
Major Causes of Pollution: 4 (River Dumping, Oil Industry, Coal Industry, Pollution from Nearby Cities)
Baton Rouge is found in a somewhat unlucky place being the center and direction of most pollutants of nearby cities. It’s a way down from the Mississippi River and because of that all cities upstream have their pollutants flow down into Baton Rouge. Include the fact that the city is a center for the oil and coal industries and you’ve got heavy pollutants both in the land and air as well. The city isn’t a particularly windy place either leaving very little space for any wind to move the air pollution.
4. Los Angeles, CA
Major Causes of Pollution: 5 (High Population Density, Traffic Congestion, Farming Industry, Manufacturing Industry, Chemical Emissions)
Los Angeles is one of the biggest cities in North America. As you might expect with a city this size, the contribution of a large population towards pollution can be heavy. Air pollution here is very high and smog is released by vehicles and facilities daily. Emissions and other particle pollutants like chemicals from farms and factories also expel out into the environment. As such LA is also considered as one of the most heavily polluted in the country.
3. St. Louis, MO
Major Causes of Pollution: 5 (River Dumping, Radioactive Landfill, Chemical Plants, Inland Port, Lack of Funding for Cleanliness)
The Missouri River downstream from St. Louis is polluted with different types of trash, chemicals and toxins. St. Louis is considered as one of the cities that are struggling with its economy, and the low economy is also impacting the government’s chances to do something about pollution. The area is also home to a radioactive landfill, chemical plants and an inland port all of which are contributing to the state of the environment.
2. Fresno, CA
Major Causes of Pollution: 5 (Oil Industry, Heavy Industry, Farming Industry, Manufacturing Industry, Water Dumping)
Fresno could be considered as an extremely polluted city. Despite the city being relatively safe, it suffers a lot from pollution from different angles. It is a convergence of oil, manufacturing, heavy industries and farming that are already three major industries that cause pollution for other cities as well. The water is highly contaminated and can even cause defects for unborn babies if pregnant women unwarily drink it.
1. Baltimore, MD
Major Causes of Pollution: 5 (Farming Industry, Oil Industry, Shipping Industry, Water Dumping, Traffic Congestion)
Baltimore is not only a place that has a rampant crime and drug problems, but it’s also a place that’s been difficult to manage because of decades of pollution. Much like Fresno, Baltimore suffers from pollution from three industries, farming, oil, and shipping. Ships that harbor nearby dump their waste into the waters and the numerous chemical and oil plants have contaminated the place making wildlife virtually extinct.
This has been the list of 16 Dirtiest Cities in America. Hopefully, this can shed some light on the situation and make efforts to reduce pollution more active.
