Forbes ranks most toxic cities in the U.S.

Philadelphia has been ranked number one on Forbes 2011 list of the most toxic cities in the U.S., the group announced.

The rankings considered the 80 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. with populations over a half million. They then considered five equally weighted factors, including air and water quality. The Toxic Release Inventory data of a city and number of days when the Air Quality Index exceeded 100 in 2009 - a level that may cause respiratory problems - both influenced the ranking as well.

Philadelphia came in first place mainly because of the city's poor water quality and the high amount of Superfund sites, which are abandoned areas containing toxic waste products.

Though Salt Lake City cane in ninth place, the city had the highest number of toxic emissions, which may be significant for someone considering moving to the area with asthmatic children who may be sensitive to polluted air.

However, the rankings warn against considering them too heavily when making future plans. "Now we're not saying that if you reside in one of these areas, you need to pack up and move, or seal your windows shut. But it pays to be aware of the risks in your area," Forbes said.  

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