All 50 states were ranked by EPA to determine which state is most polluted in the US.
The "Best States" feature in US News and World Reports has ranked states based on a variety of factors, including economics, education, and health care. The listing also evaluates the natural environment of each state, which is based on its pollution and air/water quality levels.
Using data from the Environmental Protection Agency, pollution was calculated based on water and air emissions from utilities and industries, as well as overall metrics for long-term human health effects.
Top Ten Most Polluted States
With No. 50 being the most polluted, here are the states ranked from 50 down to 41.
50th place, Most Polluted: Louisiana
49th place: Nevada
48th place: Indiana
47th place: Delaware
46th place: Utah
45th place: Ohio
44th place: Oregon
43rd place: Tennessee
42nd place: Illinois
41st place: Alabama
Most Polluted: Louisiana
According to EPA data, Louisiana is the most polluted state in the United States, placing it dead last.
According to a Tulane University study published in January 2022, Louisiana has the second-highest incidence of cancer in the nation. The study discovered that exposure to pollutants was to blame for at least 85 cancer cases annually in the state. The authors included information for the "Cancer Alley" neighborhoods, which are located in the region between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
According to data from the EPA, Nevada is the second-most polluted state. In the American Lung Association's State of the Air report from just a year ago, Nevada was listed as one of the "unhealthiest" states for its air quality.
At the time, the manager of the Nevada ALA's Clean Air Advocacy, Melissa Ramos, claimed that the state's high emissions were in part due to the Classic Car loophole. Vehicles with specific license plates are excluded from emissions testing according to the state's Classic Vehicle Insurance regulations. However, beginning in 2023, there will be some restrictions on the use of vintage vehicles.
At 40th place, Texas follows Alabama.
Top 10 Least Polluted
With No. 1 being the least polluted, here are the states ranked from 10 down to 1.
10th place: Idaho
9th place: Colorado
8th place: Maine
7th place: Rhode Island
6th place: California
5th place: Wyoming
4th place: New Mexico
3rd place: South Dakota
2nd place: New Hampshire
1st place: Vermont
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Vermont is aware of its generally favorable health status.
According to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Vermont has some of the best air quality in the country. However, the agency acknowledges that Vermont's air does contain some pollutants.
It's interesting to note that while California ranks sixth in terms of least polluted states, some of its cities are among the most polluted in the nation. The American Lung Association's study ranked cities according to their year-round particle pollution, levels of ozone pollution, and transient particle pollution. Los Angeles-Long Beach, Fresno-Madera-Hanford, Bakersfield, and Sacramento-Roseville are some of the California regions that made the ALA's list of the top 10 most polluted cities in each of the three pollution categories.
Pollutants
The EPA has identified and regulated carbon monoxide, ground-level ozone, lead, nitrogen oxides, particle pollution, and sulfur oxides as six common air pollutants. Particle pollution is also known as "particulate matter". Other air pollutants include benzene, asbestos, and fuel oils like kerosene, The Hill reports.
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