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.
A photovoltaic field at dawn, its solar panels shimmering in the light of a new day.
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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The Most Air Polluted City in the US
1. Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Average PM2.5 Concentration (2023): 19.3 μg/m³
Coraopolis is a township located in the Allegheny County of Pennsylvania, west of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. It is ranked 1st on our list of the most air polluted cities in the US. Fine particulate matter is the biggest polluter of air in Coraopolis. As of 2023, it has an average PM2.5 concentration of 19.3 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 3.86 times higher than the WHO guidance for fine particulate matter.
Curious to learn about what other cities in the US have high levels of air pollution? Check out our report on the 25 Most Air Polluted Cities in the US.
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