Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
News Flash? LA’s Pollution Is So Bad It’s Ranked Worst For Major US Cities

There’s new data confirming what many Southern Californians may already know: Los Angeles has the worst air quality of any major city in the United States.
The company, IQAir, came to that conclusion in its latest World Air Quality Report even though the L.A. area saw a 6% decrease in pollution in 2021, compared to the prior year.
IQAir, which monitors global air quality and manufactures air filtration systems, analyzed data from more than 6,400 cities across the globe in its yearly report.
Glory Dolphin Hammes, the company’s CEO, said some of that pollution can be blamed on smoke from wildfires, but the vast majority of it ultimately comes from tailpipe emissions.
“We actually need to, in some ways, just blame ourselves and the choices that we're making in terms of transportation,” Hammes said.
She adds that lifting some pandemic restrictions led to worse air quality, as more people returned to work and the economy gradually reopened.
“That really took back all of the gains that we may have had in improved air quality from [the] lockdowns, and just took it in the other direction,” she said.
L.A. isn't the only offender. Across the U.S. and Canada, six out the 15 most polluted regional cities are located in the Golden State, including California City, Three Rivers and Pollock Pines.
The World Health Organization last year cut its threshold for what's considered an “acceptable” level of pollution in half — and as a result, no major city in the world currently meets that standard.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
-
The budget gap has led to a tuition hike, along with spending cuts and fewer course offerings. At the same time, generative AI already has transformed higher ed — including post-grad job prospects.
-
The construction work is part of a $143.7 million plan to rehabilitate pavement between Van Nuys and Westwood along the Sepulveda Pass.