2026 Air Report Ranks San Diego County Among Most Polluted Areas

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1 day ago
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San Diego County is among the most polluted areas in the United States, according to a new report by the American Lung Association released Wednesday.

The 2026 State of the Air report ranked San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad as the fifth-worst nationally for annual particle pollution. Last year, it landed in 59th place. The region also ranked as the seventh worst for ozone pollution.

“What we're seeing in this year's report is San Diego lands among the most polluted for both annual particles and for ozone, unhealthy ozone days.”—Will Barrett, American Lung Association assistant vice president for nationwide clean air policy.

Under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set health-based limits for six outdoor air pollutants: particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead. The report measured fine particulate matter and ozone, which are “two of the most widespread and dangerous pollutants from this group.”

Ground-level ozone is created when pollutants emitted by vehicles, power plants and refineries react with heat and sunlight, according to the EPA, which can cause health effects even at low levels. Particle pollution, or soot, is typically caused when things are burned, such as wood or fossil fuels, Barrett said.

“They are so small they can bypass our body’s defenses and get deep into our lungs, causing all sorts of lung health concerns, including lung cancer and can cross into our bloodstream, which can affect our heart health and cause heart attacks and strokes, as well as premature death.” —Will Barrett

Tammy Murga, Environment Reporter | April 22, 2026 | KPBS

EDITOR'S NOTE: I added this photo of Bonita Road because we have a high pollution area right here in Bonita-Sunnyside. Currently, 19,000 cars and trucks travel through our town daily. Some of that traffic motors incredibly close to homes, especially on San Miguel Road. Those residents get more than their daily dose of deadly contamination to their breathing air. But we are all getting more than our share of the air impurities created by these vehicles avoiding the toll. It's been over 20 years without relief. Time for us to raise our voices.

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