If you suffer from asthma or allergies then you know have probably identified common triggers that exacerbate your symptoms. Common asthmatic and allergic triggers may include environmental factors such as air pollution, car exhaust, dust, or even pollen. Depending on the city, different laws can play a big role in your quality of living if you suffer from a breathing related condition. Here are the top U.S. cities with the highest cases of allergies, asthma rates, and pollution:

1. Dayton, OH
Dayton, Ohio has a very unhealthy amount of PM2.5 pollution. Although it’s mainly caused by pollen that doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Now that you know of PM10 you need to know what PM2.5 is. It’s the same as PM10 besides PM2.5 are particles no bigger than 2.5 nanometers. These are much smaller particles. They will stay in the air and are easier to breathe in. This will easily irritate your eyes and respiratory system. Long-term exposure can lead to heart and lung disease. A simple online search of Dayton, Ohio Air Quality Index shows there are warnings for those that are vulnerable to avoid outdoor exertion due to high levels of pollen.

2. Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, Ohio is about 200 miles away from Dayton, Ohio, and isn’t any better. The Air Quality Index for this city is the same. Ohio is known for having a lot of trees that pollinate such as Oak, Cottonwood, Birch, Maple, Sycamore, Ash, Elm, Hickory, Walnut, Beech, and Mulberry. Living here would be very difficult for those with Asthma as the trees pollinate almost all year round. That doesn’t include all the other ways the environment can be polluted. Ohio is known for having a large variety of trees and pollen. Since these trees pollinate most of the year it would be very difficult living here with Asthma.

3. Greensboro, NC
Greensboro, North Carolina has a very unhealthy amount of pollution. A county in Greensboro reported 18 code-orange days in the past three years. This means ozone levels reached unhealthy levels for active children, adults, and people with lung diseases. The Lung Association reported an increase in the number of days of unhealthy pollution levels in North Carolina. Sadly North Carolina’s pollution levels have been increasing. They have had 18 code-orange days in the past three years.

4. Philadelphia, PA.
The Air Quality Index for Philadelphia today is average but listed on the top 25 worst metro areas for ozone and year-round particle pollution. This is due to wildfires, wood-burning devices, coal plants, and engines. Pennsylvania is one of the states where the pollution is getting worse by the year. The Air Quality Index is the worst around rush hour. The pollution is not directly emitted from emissions sources instead it has built up in the atmosphere over time. Air Index Quality shows day by day quality and not an overall average. Philadelphia was listed on the top 25 worst metro areas for ozone.

5. Springfield, MA.
Springfield, Massachusetts has a moderate level of pollution. This is recorded by an Air Quality Index. This shows there are pollutants called PM10. The pollutant PM10 are particles no bigger than 10 nanometers. It’s a mixture of exhaust smoke, dust from construction sites, landscaping, wildfires, industrial companies, debris, pollen, bacteria, soot, smoke, metals, nitrates, sulfates, water, and rubber. The Air Quality Index shows Springfield, Massachusetts has a moderate level of pollution.