Real-time Tennessee Most polluted city ranking
| # | city | US AQI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga | 71 |
| 2 | Clinton | 50 |
| 3 | Knoxville | 38 |
| 4 | Athens | 32 |
Where is the cleanest air in Tennessee?
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| # | city | US AQI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brentwood | 98 |
| 2 | Chattanooga | 83 |
| 3 | Townsend | 63 |
| 4 | Athens | 62 |
Where is the best air quality in Tennessee?
Clarksville air quality 2nd best in state, ties for best in nation in 2 areas. A report from the American Lung Association ranks Clarksville the best city in the nation for air quality in two key areas: ozone pollution and 24-hour particle pollution.
Why is there unhealthy air quality in Tennessee?
The poor air quality is due to an increase in ozone pollution, which is the result of high temperatures combined with pollution from vehicle emissions, factories and other sources. Often called “smog,” ozone pollution is harmful to breathe.
Does Tennessee have bad air pollution?
According to EPA’s data for 2011, over 170 tons of hazardous toxic air pollution—benzene, formalde- hyde, and acetaldehyde and other compounds—were emitted from almost 16,000 oil and gas sites in Tennessee. 357,000 people in Tennessee live within a half-mile of active oil and gas operations.
Why is Chattanooga so dirty?
Chattanooga’s topography compounded the problem by causing temperature inversions (during which cold air flows over the mountains into the valley and is trapped–with the pollution–by a layer of warm air).
Is Knoxville toxic?
Within Knoxville, 351,400 pounds of waste was released or disposed of in 2016. Of that, 323,700 pounds went into the atmosphere. Tennessee ranks sixth highest in the nation for total releases of toxic chemicals per square mile, according to a new report from the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Why is it so smoky in East Tennessee?
Smoke covering eastern TN today is coming from fires south of the state – much of it originating from the Chipola Complex in the panhandle of FL. Hurricane Michael destroyed an estimated 72 million tons of trees in that area in 2018 that now provide vulnerable fuel for wildfires.
Why is it so hazy in Tennessee?
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Last week, smoke from wildfires out west created a hazy sky over Tennessee and Kentucky. Those hazy skies will soon be over the area once again as the jet stream is pushing more wildfire smoke east.
Why is it so hazy in East Tennessee?
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)– Knox County and portions of the East Tennessee region have been under an air quality alert after smoke from wildfires caused hazy conditions.
Does Nashville have smog?
Nashville is in attainment for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) most rigorous air pollution standards: short-term ozone, short-term PM2. 5, and annual PM2. 5. The capital city of Tennessee, however, has not always met these standards.
Does Knoxville have good air quality?
A report from the American Lung Association ranks the Knoxville area as the 25th worst city in the country for annual air pollution, putting it behind Memphis, Nashville and other cities across Tennessee that have seen air quality improvements in recent years.
Which cities have the best air quality?
The ten cities with the cleanest air, free of particle pollution are:
- Urban Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, Hawaii.
- Cheyenne, Wyoming.
- Wilmington, North Carolina.
- Casper, Wyoming.
- St. George, Utah.
- Bellingham, Washington.
- Elmira-Corning, New York.
Why is the air quality so bad in Knoxville?
In East Tennessee, three main factors contribute to air quality issues: topography, weather and pollution.
Does Maryville TN have good air quality?
Fair
The air quality is generally acceptable for most individuals.
Is Tennessee River clean?
It is also one of the most polluted rivers in the world. A study announced earlier this year found that the level of microplastics in the Tennessee River is among the highest ever measured.
What is the Tennessee River polluted with?
Industrial chemicals found in the Tennessee River are PFAS (per-and polyfluorinated substances), mercury, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and corrosion inhibitors. These chemicals are often non-biodegradable, can move through soil into waterways, and last in the environment for decades to hundreds of years.
Is Chattanooga a clean city?
Outside magazine twice voted Chattanooga the number one spot for outdoor activities, from canoeing to triathlons and rock climbing, and the city was recently ranked No. 12 among the top 15 metro areas in the U.S. for seeing the most improvement in air quality—with 66 percent of days having good air quality in 2014.
How clean is Chattanooga?
Back in 1969, a Federal Air Quality Report labeled it the most polluted city in the United States. Flash forward to 2017, and the American Lung Association hails Chattanooga as one of the cleanest cities in the entire country.
Is Tennessee a toxic state?
The National Resources Defense Council has released its second annual list of the “Toxic 20,” aka the worst states for toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants. According to the list, Tennessee is the nation’s 11th worst offender.
Do people still live in Oak Ridge Tennessee?
Oak Ridge’s population was 31,402 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area.
