Worst Air Quality in Massachusetts Revealed by Study

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea. Southeastern Massachusetts boasts some of the most gorgeous seaside scenery, but beware of the air that you breathe, especially when visiting Bristol, Dukes, and portions of Barnstable Counties.

Which Massachusetts Counties Have the Worst Air?

According to the American Lung Association's (ALA) 2026 State of the Air Report Card, some of the dirtiest air in Massachusetts is just a breath away.

How Each County Scored in the Report

ALA gives Bristol and Dukes Counties a "D" grade, the lowest of the 13 of 14 Bay State counties whose ozone data were evaluated by the agency. Barnstable County scored a "C" grade on the ALA's report card.

Nantucket County was the only county excluded from the report.

Barry Richard/Townsquare Media

Essex, Hampden, Hampshire, and Norfolk Counties also earned a "C" grade, while Berkshire, Franklin, Middlesex, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester Counties scored a "B" grade.

No Massachusetts community received an "A" from the American Lung Association.

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Bristol County includes the cities of New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and Attleboro, while Dukes County is Martha's Vineyard. Barnstable County covers Cape Cod.

The ALA report concludes that "170,000 kids in Massachusetts are breathing unhealthy levels of air pollution," and that "Bristol and Dukes Counties tied for the worst value for ozone smog in Massachusetts, for which they posted D grades."

Where the Boston Area Ranks Nationally

The Boston-Worcester-Providence metro area (Boston metro area) "ranked 57th worst in the nation for ozone pollution," according to the American Lung Association, which dropped the region's daily particle pollution grade from a "C" to an "F."

Why Air Pollution Is a Serious Health Risk

The ALA stated, "Fine particle pollution can be extremely dangerous and even deadly."

"These particles come from wildfires, wood-burning stoves, coal-fired power plants, diesel engines, and other sources," according to the ALA.

Goosebumps and other bodily reactions, explained

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Gallery Credit: Stacker