These Are the Dirtiest States in America, Ranked
#6 Pennsylvania
Known as the Coal State, Pennsylvania contributed to 7% of the U.S.’s coal output in 2019. However, poor air quality persists, with pollution reaching 9.2 micrograms per cubic meter over three years, exacerbated by industrial activities like those in Clairton.
Pennsylvania faces a severe childhood asthma crisis, with rates doubling the state’s average and tripling nationally. Recent measures by the Department of Environmental Protection include testing landfill liquid waste for radioactive materials, amid fears of drinking water contamination.
