These two Florida cities are among the dirtiest in the US

The study focused on hazardous factors that affect a population’s health, including air quality, water quality, and noise quality.

Two Florida cities, Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, have the undesirable honor of making the list of the dirtiest cities in the US, according to a recent study.

LawnStudy, a lawn care provider, evaluated over 150 of the biggest cities in the country to determine the dirtiest. But what qualifies as dirty? The study didn’t focus on litter or aesthetics, but rather on hazardous factors that affect a population’s health, including air quality, water quality, and noise quality.

The study used data from various federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Census Bureau, Department of Energy, and Environmental Protection Agency.

Both Florida cities ranked within the top 10 in the category of “worst living conditions,” which includes factors such as population density, overcrowded homes, homes with mold, rodent and cockroach infestations, and unsheltered homeless rates. 

Houston topped the list because of its high levels of pollution, a significant cockroach problem, and greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial plants.

Here’s the full top 20:

1. Houston, Texas
2. Newark, New Jersey
3. San Bernardino, California
4. Detroit, Michigan
5. Jersey City, New Jersey
6. Bakersfield, California
7. San Antonio, Texas
8. Fresno, California
9. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10. Yonkers, New York
11. Shreveport, Louisiana
12. New York, New York
13. Birmingham, Alabama
14. Ontario, California
15. Los Angeles, California
16. Modesto, California
17. Palmdale, California
18. Hollywood, Florida
19. Las Vegas, Nevada
20. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The cleanest city for the second consecutive year, according to the study, is Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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