Summary: Best and Worst Cities for Ozone Pollution
Cleanest Cities by Ozone
Albany-Schenectady, NY
Asheville-Marion-Brevard, NC
Bangor, ME
Bellingham, WA
Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA
Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY
Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville, TX
Brunswick, GA
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT
Charleston-Huntington-Ashland, WV-OH-KY
Charlottesville, VA
Clarksville, TN-KY
Cleveland-Indianola, MS
Columbia-Moberly-Mexico, MO
Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, GA-AL
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
Decatur, IL
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA
Duluth, MN-WI
Eau Claire-Menomonie, WI
Elmira-Corning, NY
Erie-Meadville, PA
Fairbanks, AK
Fayetteville-Sanford-Lumberton, NC
Flagstaff, AZ
Worst Cities for 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
Houston-The Woodlands, TX
Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA
El Centro, CA
El Paso-Las Cruces, TX-NM
Fort Collins, CO
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK
Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV
Colorado Springs, CO
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Redding-Red Bluff, CA
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM
Hartford-East Hartford, CT
Source: American Lung Association 2023
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.