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 (June 2021) Summary: Best and Worst Cities for Ozone Pollution Cleanest Ozone Cities (in alphabetical order) Altoona-Huntingdon, PA Bangor, ME Bismarck, ND Bowling Green-Glasgow, KY Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville, TX Brunswick, GA Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT Casper, WY Charlottesville, VA Clarksville, TN-KY Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, GA-AL Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Dothan-Ozark, AL Duluth, MN-WI Elmira-Corning, NY Fairbanks, AK Fargo-Wahpeton, ND-MN Fayetteville-Sanford-Lumberton, NC Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR Florence, SC Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Fort Smith, AR-OK Gadsden, AL Gainesville-Lake City, FL Harrisonburg-Staunton, VA Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Jackson-Vicksburg-Brookhaven, MS Jefferson City, MO Johnstown-Somerset, PA La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Laredo, TX Lexington-Fayette-Richmond-Frankfort, KY Lincoln-Beatrice, NE McAllen-Edinburg, TX Monroe-Ruston, LA Morgantown-Fairmont, WV Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC-NC New Bern-Morehead City, NC Paducah-Mayfield, KY-IL Panama City, FL Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC Rapid City-Spearfish, SD Roanoke, VA Rochester-Austin, MN Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC Salinas, CA Savannah-Hinesville-Statesboro, GA Scottsboro-Fort Payne, AL Shreveport-Bossier City-Minden, LA Springfield, MO Topeka, KS Tupelo-Corinth, MS Urban Honolulu, HI Utica-Rome, NY Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC Wausau-Stevens Point-Wisconsin Rapids, WI Wichita-Winfield, KS Williamsport-Lock Haven, PA Wilmington, NC Most Ozone Polluted Cities Los Angeles, CA Bakersfield, CA Visalia, CA Fresno, CA Phoenix, AZ Sacramento, CA San Diego, CA Denver, CO Salt Lake City, UT San Jose, CA Houston, TX Las Vegas, NV El Paso, TX New York City, NY El Centro, CA Chicago, IL Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Fort Collins, CO Chico, CA Redding, CA Philadelphia, PA Washington DC Sheboygan, WI Milwaukee, WI Hartford, CT Source: American Lung Association 2021 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. Stay indoors as much as possible and when ozone/pollution levels are high. Keep windows closed. Take medications exactly as prescribed. Use the circulate setting on your home thermostat to keep polluted air out. Exercise or be outside in the morning when ozone levels are lowest. 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. 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.