A nationwide analysis finds multiple California metro areas rank among the worst in the U.S. for ozone and particle pollution levels.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A newly released national air quality assessment has identified California as home to the highest concentration of cities with the most polluted air in the United States, based on multiple measures of pollution exposure.
The 2026 “State of the Air” report published by the American Lung Association evaluated metropolitan regions using three primary indicators: ozone pollution, short-term particle pollution, and year-round particle pollution. The findings show that California cities consistently ranked near the top across all categories.
According to the report, five metropolitan areas in California appeared among the ten most affected regions for year-round particle pollution, while eight cities from the state were listed within the top 25 nationwide.
The Bakersfield-Delano region was identified as the most polluted in the country for year-round particle pollution out of 211 metropolitan areas evaluated. Other California regions ranking in the top ten for this category included Fresno-Hanford-Corcoran at fourth, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad and Visalia tied for fifth, and Los Angeles-Long Beach at seventh.
Additional California metro areas, including San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, were tied at 13th place, while El Centro ranked 21st on the same list.
In the category of short-term particle pollution, Bakersfield showed some improvement, moving from first place in the previous report to third, while Fairbanks, Alaska, ranked first in the latest findings.
Los Angeles continued to rank highest in ozone pollution among 226 metropolitan areas, marking the 26th time in 27 years the region has held that position, according to reporting highlighted in Secret Los Angeles.
The report detailed the health risks associated with these pollutants, noting that ground-level ozone, often referred to as smog, has been extensively studied and is associated with adverse health effects even at levels currently observed in many parts of the country. It also stated that both ozone and particle pollution contribute to increased risks of premature birth, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and reduced life expectancy.
Nationally, the report found that approximately 44% of Americans—an estimated 152.3 million people—live in areas receiving failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, according to the report’s key findings.
The data also showed that children are disproportionately affected, with about 46%—or 33.5 million individuals under the age of 18—living in regions where at least one pollution metric failed to meet standards. Additionally, 7.3 million people, representing roughly 10% of the population, reside in areas where all three pollution measures received failing grades.
The report underscores the ongoing challenges related to air quality in densely populated and industrial regions, particularly in California, where geographic and environmental factors contribute to persistent pollution levels.
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