Community Chat

[Jupiter]

The report, "State of the Air, 2011" has come out with the list of the 10 worst cities for smog in the USA. 8 of the nation's 10 smoggiest cities are in California, despite tough vehicle emission requirements and pollution control efforts!

1) Los Angeles, CA

2) Bakersfield, CA

3) Visalia, CA

4) Fresno, CA

5) Sacramento, CA

6) Hanford, CA

7) San Diego, CA

8) Houston, Texas

9) Merced, CA

10) Charlotte, NC

Phoenix, Arizona has the worst particle pollution, tied with Los Angeles and Visalia for 2nd place, for worst year-round particle pollution. People came to Phoenix for refuge from allergies or asthma, but population growth also brought pollution, car emissions, construction equipment, mowers and desert dust which created a "brown cloud". Smog and particle pollution pose the greatest health risks for children and older people.

Pittsburgh, PA is #3 in daily particle pollution and #7 ranking for year-round particle pollution.

For Provo, Utah, winter air pollution is a serious concern. Cars and wood-burning stoves and fireplaces contribute to the pollution. Provo ranks #6 in the nation for the average daily levels of particle pollution!

I once had to drive through Bakersfield, Ca, and the pollution was the worst that I have ever seen anywhere in my life! The air was so thick with it. The smell was so horrible and I could smell it with my windows closed! I remember saying that it must be the most polluted place of them all, and now I realize that I was right!

I can't imagine what Los Angeles would be like without their strict vehicle emission and pollution control efforts! I remember driving there from the north of it and beginning to see what looked like a thick huge cloud up ahead in the sky. The sky was clear and blue until we arrived in L.A., and then the smog appeared over us like a thick cloud. This was many years ago, but I will always remember that moment.

Many of the smoggiest places in CA are farming towns and cities! That really surprised me to discover that. I always imagined farmlands to be open spaces and a clean environment, but they are the smoggiest places in the states, at least in CA!