Best & Worst Cities for Ozone Pollution
This information has been reviewed and approved by Anthony Gerber, MD, PhD (July 2024).
Summary: Best and Worst Cities for Ozone Pollution
Cleanest Cities by Ozone
- Albany-Schenectady, NY
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
- Bangor, ME
- Bellingham, WA
- Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA
- Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY
- Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville, TX
- Brunswick, GA
- Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT
- Cape Coral-Fort Myers-Naples, FL
- Charleston-Huntington-Ashland, WV-OH-KY
- Charleston-North Charleston, SC
- Charlottesville, VA
- Clarksville, TN-KY
- Cleveland-Indianola, MS
- Columbia-Moberly-Mexico, MO
- Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, GA-AL
- Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
- Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA
- Duluth, MN-WI
- Eau Claire-Menomonie, WI
- Elmira-Corning, NY
- Erie-Meadville, PA
- Fairbanks, AK
- Florence, SC
Worst Cities by Ozone
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA
- Visalia, CA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA
- Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
- Denver-Aurora, CO
- Sacramento-Roseville, CA
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
- Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT
- Houston-The Woodlands, TX
- Las Vegas-Henderson, NV
- San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA
- Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK
- New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA
- El Paso-Las Cruces, TX-NM
- Fort Collins, CO
- Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
- El Centro, CA
- Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM
- Redding-Red Blu , CA
- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
- San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX
- Grand Rapids-Kentwood-Muskegon, MI
Source: American Lung Association 2024
What is Ozone Pollution?
Bad or ground-level ozone pollution is created when vehicle and other emissions mix with pollutants and are heated by the sun. Warmer weather increases ground-level ozone pollution.
What Makes Air Quality Unhealthy?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) grades air quality based on ground-level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide levels. Visit airnow.gov or watch local alerts.
Protect Your Lungs from Ozone Pollution
- Watch local air quality advisories.
- Ozone levels are always lower in the morning, so plan outdoor activities accordingly.
- The elderly, the very young and those with lung disease are at the highest risk from severe ozone pollution and should limit afternoon outdoor time during poor ozone days
- Keep windows closed.
- Take medications exactly as prescribed.
- Use the circulate setting on your home thermostat to keep polluted air out.
- Call your doctor if symptoms increase or if you need more medication.
Facemasks are highly encouraged to limit COVID-19 infection but provide no protection against ozone pollution.
More Information on Pollution
- Air Quality Index
- Wildfire Smoke
- Cardiology Programs
- Adult Asthma Treatment Programs
- Make an Appointment
- Find a Doctor
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