SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The American Lung Association’s 2026 list of most polluted places to live has ranked San Diego’s air quality among the worst in the country.
The American Lung Association‘s 27th annual “State of the Air” report found nearly half of U.S. children are breathing unhealthy levels of pollution in the air. The report grades counties based on how much smog (ground-level ozone air pollution) and soot (particle pollution) levels are in the air over a three year period, and San Diegans are among 75.9 million people, including 33.5 million children, living across the country with a failing grade.
Air advisory in southern San Diego due to hydrogen sulfide
San Diego ranked 59th last year, and was listed as the 5th most polluted place to live in 2026 for year-round particle pollution, which the report stated was the biggest change on the entire list.
With a population of 3.2 million, the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metropolitan area in 5th place falls below Fresno-Hanford-Corcoran, CA at number four; Eugene-Springfield, OR at number three; Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville, TX at number two; and the most polluted area on the list — Bakersfield-Delano, CA…