Map Shows 10 Dirtiest Major Cities in America [Video]

The New York-Newark-Jersey City region has topped a ranking of the dirtiest major metropolitan areas in the United States, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by Oxi Fresh, the carpet cleaning company, evaluated 35 major U.S. metro areas based on several key indicators of cleanliness, with each area given an overall grade from A+ to D.

Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and other government sources, each metro area was graded on seven cleanliness factors. They include population density, rodent and cockroach prevalence, levels of vandalism and litter as well as air quality and tap water quality.

The metro areas each received a score across these seven criteria, which were then formed into a final grade reflecting its overall environmental cleanliness and public health standards to establish their rankings.

Eric Roy, lead scientist of the consumer product division at Culligan, a water systems treatment company, told Newsweekthat “the lower-ranking cities may …