In this article, we will look into the 25 Most Air Polluted Cities in the US.
Air Pollution in the US
According to the 2024 report by the American Lungs Association, 39% of the population in America, a staggering 131.2 million people, live in unhealthy levels of ozone and particle pollution, an increase of 11.7 million people living in polluted air compared to the previous year. As of the 2024 release, around 4 out of 10 people in America reside in places with deteriorated air quality. This can be attributed to extreme heat, drought, and wildfires, leading to an increase in particle pollution affecting the western US the most. In counties with the worst air across all measures of air pollution, 63% of the residents, are people of color. The report reveals that climate change is adding to the air pollution in the country. Extreme heat is leading to particle pollution and other GHG emissions, causing wildfires and drought.
Moreover, there is a considerable disparity between the air quality in the eastern and western states of the country regarding the daily fine particle pollution, due to climate change-driven increases in pollution on one side and policy-driven emissions reduction on the other. As of 2024, there are only 4 large counties in three states east of the Mississippi River with unhealthy fine particle pollution, compared to 108 counties in 16 western states (daily fine particle pollution). However, year-round particle pollution remains a major concern for both eastern and western states.
On February 7, the Biden-Harris administration finalized a new stronger standard for air quality in the country, guarding the health of its citizens. The annual health-based national ambient air quality standards have changed from 12 micrograms per cubic meter to 9 micrograms per cubic meter. This will help prevent up to 4,500 premature deaths and 290,000 lost work days, resulting in nearly $46 billion in net health benefits by 2032.
A Transition Away from Fossil Fuels to Fresh Air
A 2019 study in the US titled, “Fine-scale damage estimates of particulate matter air pollution reveal opportunities for location-specific mitigation of emissions”, stated that more than 50,000 deaths in the country are due to air pollution from burning fossil fuels, leading to annual economic damage of $445 billion. This loss can be avoided if the energy is decarbonized and most coal is phased out by 2030. Moreover, switching to renewable energy could prevent up to 400,000 deaths due to air pollution by 2050. According to the US Energy Information Administration, renewable energy accounts for 21.4% of the total utility electricity generation in the US, and solar energy represents 18% of the total renewable energy electricity generation in the country. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) is one of the leading solar companies in the US, responsible for the production and development of photovoltaic solar energy modules. The company expects to expand its manufacturing capacity to 10 gigawatts in the US and 20 GW globally by 2025.
On June 4, First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) announced that its new Series 6 Plus and Series 7 TR1 products are one of the first PV solar modules to achieve the green label, EPEAT Climate+, a globally recognized ecolabel allowing the identification of environmentally preferable products, setting a new standard for the solar technology and manufacturing industry. The label addresses a product’s entire life cycle, from managing the material and energy used for manufacturing to its end-to-life recycling and corporate responsibility. The company has become the US solar industry’s first EPEAT Climate+ leader, making its products preferable for US government purchasing. Climate-friendly solar panels can help expedite the efforts of the US to produce 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050. Solar energy accounted for 75% of the added electricity generation capacity in the US power grid in the first quarter of 2024, reaching a new capacity of 11.8 GW.
Bob Mitchell, CEO Global Electronics Council said:
“EPEAT Climate+ helps ensure that purchasers and investors are able to prioritize ultra-low carbon solar technologies that meaningfully support decarbonization efforts. This is a simple, yet effective tool to mitigate lifecycle carbon impacts of solar modules, while enabling a market for responsibly manufactured technologies that embody sustainability.”
The label makes First Solar, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:FSLR) advanced thin film PV Series 7 modules the benchmark panel with the lowest carbon and water footprint among the commercially available PV modules. The management believes that the company has added yet another factor that differentiates them from their competitors in the solar industry. The Series 6 Plus and Series 7 TR1 by FSLR, became the first PV modules to be added to the list of approximately 1,500 products, called EPEAT Climate+ Champions. Low-carbon products along with Biden’s two-year moratorium on imported panels can significantly help the US solar industry to soar, benefitting major players such as FSLR.
Now, let’s look at the 25 most air polluted cities in the US.
Solar panels in an agricultural field, highlighting the company’s commitment to renewable energy.
Methodology
To compile our list of the 25 most air polluted cities in the US, we utilized IQ Air’s Air Quality Index (AQI). We have ranked the cities in ascending order of their average PM2.5 concentration, as of 2023. Please note that we have also included towns, municipalities, and villages, in the AQI on our list.
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25 Most Air Polluted Cities in the US
25. Orleans, California
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.7 μg/m³
Orleans is a human settlement in Humboldt County, California, located northeast of Weitchpec. It is ranked 25th on our list of the most air polluted cities in the US.
24. Harvard, Illinois
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.7 μg/m³
Harvard is a city in Illinois, with a total population of 9,356. It is one of the most polluted cities in the country with respect to air quality.
23. Lemont, Illinois
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.7 μg/m³
Ranked 23rd on our list, Lemont is a village in Illinois. Its average fine particular matter concentration is 14.7 μg/m³, as of 2023.
22. La Pine, Oregon
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.8 μg/m³
La Pine is a city in Deschutes County, Oregon, popular for its tourist attraction points. The city’s air quality is below the standard set by WHO.
21. Beloit, Wisconsin
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.8 μg/m³
Beloit is ranked 21st on our list. It is located in Rock County, Wisconsin, and is popular for hosting the state’s second-largest open-air farmers market. As of 2023, its PM2.5 concentration is 14.8 μg/m³.
20. Cutler, California
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.9 μg/m³
Cutler is ranked 20th on our list of the cities with the most air polluted cities in the US. Its average PM2.5 concentration is 3 times higher than the WHO limit.
19. Salton City, California
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.9 μg/m³
Salton City is located in Imperial County, California. It is ranked 19th on our list, with a fine particulate matter concentration of 14.9 μg/m³.
18. Homer, Illinois
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.9 μg/m³
Homer is located in the east-central part of Illinois in Champaign County. As of 2023, its average particulate matter concentration is 14.9 μg/m³.
17. Columbia, Pennsylvania
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 14.9 μg/m³
Columbia is a town in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The city has an average PM2.5 concentration of 14.9 μg/m³.
16. Peotone, Illinois
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.1 μg/m³
Located in Will County, Peotone is a village in Illinois. The village has a poor air quality, with a PM2.5 concentration of 15.1 micrograms per cubic meter.
15. Woodstock, Illinois
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.1 μg/m³
Woodstock is a city located in McHenry County, Illinois. It has an average PM2.5 concentration 3 times higher than the WHO air quality standard.
14. McCook, Illinois
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.2 μg/m³
McCook is a village located in Cook County, Illinois. Its average PM2.5 concentration is 3 times higher than the WHO limit.
13. Baldwin Park, California
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.3 μg/m³
Baldwin Park is located in the central San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County in California. It is one of the most air polluted cities in the US.
12. Ridgewood, New York
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.3 μg/m³
Ridgewood is ranked 12th on our list of the most air polluted cities in the US. Its average PM2.5 concentration is 15.3 micrograms per cubic meter.
11. Gordonville, Pennsylvania
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.4 μg/m³
Gordonville is a consensus-designated town in Leacock Township, Lancaster County. As of 2023, the town has a particulate matter concentration of 15.4 μg/m³.
10. Huntington, Indiana
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.5 μg/m³
Huntington is part of Indiana’s metropolitan area, Fort Wayne, and is also the administrative center of Huntington County. The average fine particulate matter concentration in the city is 15.5 μg/m³.
9. Elwood, Illinois
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.6 μg/m³
Elwood is a village in Will County, Illinois. Its average PM2.5 concentration is 15.6 μg/m³, as of 2023.
8. Attleboro, Massachusetts
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 15.8 μg/m³
Attleboro is a city in the Massachusetts state of the US. It is ranked 8th on our list of the most air polluted cities in the United States.
7. Robesonia, Pennsylvania
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 16.3 μg/m³
Robesonia is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It has an average particulate matter concentration of 16.3 micrograms per cubic meter, nearly 3.3 times higher than the WHO standard.
6. Claymont, Delaware
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 16.5 μg/m³
Located in New Castle County, Claymont is one of the most air polluted cities in the United States. It has an average PM2.5 concentration of 16.5 μg/m³.
5. Adrian, Michigan
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 16.6 μg/m³
Adrian is ranked 5th on our list of the most air polluted cities in the US. The city is located in Lenawee County, Michigan. Its average fine particulate matter concentration is 16.6 μg/m³.