Tulsa gets an F from the American Lung Association for ozone pollution and is ranked the 18th-most polluted metro area in the U.S.
The rankings, however, include 2012, the area’s second-worst ozone season ever. That year saw 21 alert days, more than 2013, 2014 and 2015 combined. The rankings also have a stricter standard than the Environmental Protection Agency.
Tulsa consistently has ozone levels just below the federal limit, though that presents its own problem when it comes to paying for projects to improve local air quality.
"We are disadvantaged, if you will, because we're not in non-attainment. We're not on that federal list that says, 'Oh, they've got air quality problems big time. We need to send the money to them in a greater degree,'" said INCOG Air Quality Program Manager Nancy Graham.
The lung association report also ranks Tulsa tied for cleanest when it comes to 24-hour particle pollution.
