Best & Worst Cities for Ozone Pollution Make an Appointment Ask a Question Search Conditions This information has been reviewed and approved by Anthony Gerber, MD, PhD (June 2022). Summary: Best and Worst Cities for Ozone Pollution Cleanest Cities by Ozone Altoona-Huntingdon, PA Bangor, ME Bismarck, ND Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville, TX Brunswick, GA Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT Charlottesville, VA Cheyenne, WY Clarksville, TN-KY Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, GA-AL Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Duluth, MN-WI Elmira-Corning, NY Erie-Meadville, PA Eugene-Springfield, OR Fairbanks, AK Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN Fayetteville-Sanford-Lumberton, NC Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR Florence, SC Fort Smith, AR-OK Gadsden, AL Worst Cities for Ozone Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA Bakersfield, CA Visalia, CA Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA Phoenix-Mesa, AZ San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA Denver-Aurora, CO Houston-The Woodlands, TX Sacramento-Roseville, CA Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, UT Las Vegas-Henderson, NV El Paso-Las Cruces, TX-NM San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA El Centro, CA Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK Fort Collins, CO San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA Chico, CA Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM Redding-Red Bluff, CA Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX Source: American Lung Association 2022 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 Pollution & Asthma Indoor Air Pollution Wildfire Smoke Cardiology Programs Diabetes Program Adult Asthma Treatment Programs Pediatric Asthma Treatment Programs COPD Program Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Want to use this on your website? Fill out the content usage request form and then copy this code: You may use this infographic or our Best and Worst Cities for Ozone Pollution (pdf) with permission by completing our content usage request form.