Below we have lists of the dirtiest city's Air Quality measured in Short-term Particle Pollution and Long-Term Particle Pollution. Find out about the air quality of your own hometown to see if you should ever concern yourself with the growing problems of bad Air Quality. Fresh air can be found outdoors, in natural environments, away from city centers or neighborhoods. Getting Outside is important to health. And so is having good indoor air quality. We recommend you keep a few indoor house plants (at least one for every 100 square feet of living space) in your home.

10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Short-term Particle Pollution

1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1. New Castle, Pennsyl.
2. Fresno, California
2. Madera, Calif.
3. Bakersfield, Calif.
4. Los Angeles, Calif.
4. Long Beach, Calif.
4. Riverside, Calif.
5. Birmingham, Alabama
5. Hoover, Alabama
5. Cullman, Alabama
6. Salt Lake City, Utah
6. Ogden, Utah
6. Clearfield, Utah
7. Sacramento, Calif.
7. Arden, Calif.
7. Arcade, Calif.
7. Yuba City, Nevada
8. Logan, Utah
9. Chicago, Illinois
9. Naperville, Indiana
9. Michigan City, Wisconson
10. Detroit, Michigan
10. Warren, Mich.
10. Flint, Mich.

*Cities listed are ranked in order. Duplicate position numbers indicate ties.

10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution

1. Bakersfield, Calif.
2. Pittsburgh, Pennsyl.
2. New Castle, Pennsyl.
3. Los Angeles, Calif.
3. Long Beach, Calif.
3. Riverside, Calif.
4. Visalia, Calif.
4. Porterville, Calif.
5. Birmingham, Alabama
5. Hoover, Ala.
5. Cullman, Ala.
6. Hanford, Calif.
6. Corcoran, Calif.
7. Fresno, Calif.
7. Madera, Calif.
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
8. Middletown, Kentucky.
8. Wilmington, Indiana.
9. Detroit, Mich.
9. Warren, Mich.
9. Flint, Mich.
10. Cleveland, Ohio.
10. Akron, Ohio.
10. Elyria, Ohio

*Cities listed are ranked in order. Duplicate position numbers indicate ties.

10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Ozone

1. Los Angeles, Calif.
1. Long Beach, Calif.
1. Riverside, Calif.
2. Bakersfield, Calif.
3. Visalia, Calif.
3. Porterville, Calif.
4. Fresno, Calif.
4. Madera, Calif.
5. Houston, Texas
5. Baytown, Texas
5. Huntsville, Texas
6. Sacramento, Calif.
6. Arden, Calif.
6. Arcade, Calif.
6. Yuba City, Nevada
7. Dallas, Texas
7. Fort Worth, Texas
8. Charlotte, N.C
8. Gastonia, N.C.
8. Salisbury, S.C.
9. Phoenix, Arizona.
9. Mesa, Ariz.
9. Scottsdale, Ariz.
10. El Centro, Calif.

*Cities listed are ranked in order. Duplicate position numbers indicate ties.

Visit www.lungusa.org to search local air quality grades by zip code and to send messages to Congress and the Obama Administration to urge action to protect the air we breathe.

Back to the Main Article on "Dirty Air" from GettingOutside.com's Green Section

Or go here to view lists of the Nation's Cleanest Cities ranked by scientists running the same three tests.