This 2024 "State of the Air" report warns efforts to reduce emissions are undermined by extreme heat, drought and wildfires caused by climate change.

According to the report, after Bakersfield, the worst cities for year-round particle pollution between 2020 and 2022 were:

  • Visalia, California
  • Fresno-Madera-Hanford, California
  • Eugene-Springfield, Oregon
  • San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California
  • Los Angeles-Long Beach, California
  • Sacramento-Roseville, California
  • Medford-Grants Pass, Oregon
  • Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona
  • Fairbanks, Alaska

Los Angeles — infamous for its smog, which is mainly composed of ozone — ranked as the worst city for ozone pollution in the country, as it has on all but one “State of the Air” report. After Los Angeles, the most polluted cities for ozone were:

  • Visalia, California
  • Bakersfield, California
  • Fresno-Madera-Hanford, California
  • Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona
  • Denver-Aurora, Colorado
  • Sacramento-Roseville, California
  • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, California
  • Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, Utah
  • Houston-The Woodlands, Texas