According to a recent report by Visual Capitalist, San Bernardino and Ontario have been named the dirtiest cities in California, with San Bernardino taking the top spot as the dirtiest city in the nation and Ontario ranking sixth. Other cities in the top 10 include Newark, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Visual Capitalist’s rankings evaluated over 300 U.S. cities based on pollution, infrastructure, living conditions, and resident dissatisfaction. Key factors included air quality index, greenhouse gas emissions per capita, water quality violations, waste levels in landfills, population density, and overcrowded housing. These conditions, the report notes, can significantly impact public health, increasing risks of respiratory diseases and exposure to disease-carrying pests.
The findings highlight ongoing environmental and infrastructure challenges in San Bernardino and Ontario, underscoring the importance of addressing pollution and waste management issues to improve residents’ quality of life.