These Are the Dirtiest States in America, Ranked
#20: Tennessee
Tennessee, known as the Volunteer State, produces almost 100 million metric tons of CO2 but only 7.4 micrograms of fine particles per m3 from 2016-2018, showing significant improvement from ranking as the 11th worst in coal air pollution in 2012.
Tennessee’s waterways are facing a pollution crisis, with over half being too polluted for drinking, fishing, or swimming. This marks a significant increase from a decade ago when less than a third were deemed too contaminated.
