Causecast

by SARAH NELSON, Contributing Writer

If you live anywhere near a metropolitan area, chances are your home could appear somewhere on Forbe’s Top Toxic Cities List. Taking a look at the 40 largest cities in the United States and digging into EPA statistics on population density, the amount of environmental waste, the number of toxin-releasing chemical plants in the area and overall air quality, Forbes released its take on the nation’s most toxic places to live. Atlanta, Georgia takes the cake as America’s most toxic city. Nice work, HOTlanta.

In Atlanta’s defense, the finding does give some lenience to the fact that Atlanta is closely neighbored by Marietta and Sandy Springs, both booming suburban areas that house major chemical plants. Contaminants from the factories can seep into the ground and water supply. Not to mention, undetected leaks discharge harmful substances into the air. The presence of chemical waste and inefficient alternatives to current methods of disposal contribute to Atlanta’s position as the toxic capital of the United States.

The Peachtree City is followed by:

2. Detroit
3. Houston
4. Chicago
5. Philadelphia
6. Cleveland
7. Los Angeles
8. Jacksonville
9. Baltimore
10. Portland

Regardless of the how toxic each city is ranked, the bottom line is the same – U.S. cities are producing a lot of carbon waste. Even with plans to reduce emissions, clean up is not cheap. The EPA expects the cost to reduce pollution levels in the next year will run the feds about $10.5 billion.

Amidst the polluted clouds hovering over America’s most toxic cities, there is some good news. Forbes’ report also included the least toxic cities.

Las Vegas tops the list as America’s least toxic city, followed by:

2. Sacramento
3. Riverside
4. Austin
5. Seattle
6. San Diego
7. Virginia Beach
8. San Jose
9. New York
10. Phoenix

It’s a little surprising to see New York on the “Least Toxic List,” right? Here’s the deal – New York is one of those cities that actually benefits from population density. With all those people potentially clogging the roads, very few New Yorkers actually drive and opt, instead, for the mass transit alternative, essentially cutting back on potential carbon emissions. Spend one afternoon on the subway in New York and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

Be part of the solution to clean up our toxic cities. Opt for cleaner energy, support green innovation and demand change from the factories and businesses contributing most to polluting the environment.

Photo by james.rintamaki, flickr.