One of the largest cities in the South has dethroned an urban area on the East Coast to become the “dirtiest” city in the country, according to a recent study.
LawnStarter, a lawn care provider, evaluated more than 150 of the largest U.S. cities, focusing on pollution, living conditions, infrastructure and resident satisfaction.
The study analyzed data from several federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Census Bureau, the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Houston topped the list of so-called dirtiest cities due to high levels of pollution, a major cockroach problem and greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial plants.
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Investigators also cited a 2022 report from the nonprofit media organization Grist, which found that some of “Houston’s petrochemical facilities were in serious violation of EPA safety guidelines.”
In April, the EPA announced that chemical plants on the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” must reduce toxic air pollution to safeguard public health.
Despite these challenges, some Houston residents report greater satisfaction with their city’s cleanliness than residents of 33 other large cities.
Cities that rounded out the top five included Newark, New Jersey (which previously held the title of dirtiest city); San Bernardino, California; Detroit, Michigan; and Jersey City, New Jersey. Here is the complete top 20:
Several California cities, including Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles and San Bernardino, are also among the dirtiest. For the second year in a row, San Bernardino had the most dissatisfied residents regarding cleanliness.
Additionally, the study highlighted the southwest’s water problems, exacerbated by drought and climate change. Las Vegas was named the dirtiest in the region, ranking 19th, while Chandler, Arizona, is the cleanest at 71st.
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According to the study, cigarette litter is a common problem in Ohio. Cleveland had the highest percentage of smokers (29.1%), causing trash problems despite strict laws. Columbus, however, had the lowest level (22.1%) and was one of the cleanest cities overall, ranking 137th.
On the other hand, Virginia Beach, Virginia, stood out as the cleanest city for the second year in a row, showing low levels of pollution and high consumer satisfaction. Other high-performing countries were Fremont, California; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Des Moines, Iowa.
Click here to see the full study.
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