Air Quality By State

Air quality plays a paramount role in overall environmental health, has a profound impact on human health, and can significantly influence the quality of life. Across the United States, air quality varies greatly from state to state, influenced by a multitude of factors including local climate, geography, population density, industrial practices, and traffic emissions.

For citizens and policy makers alike, understanding comparative air quality from state to state is vital in order to develop effective environmental and health policies, raise public awareness, and inspire actions that contribute to cleaner air. Based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), the purpose of this article is to shed light on air quality by state and offers a comprehensive overview of the current status throughout the country.

Key findings present notable trends and patterns:

• The range in AQI across all states is quite expansive, with scores spanning from 19.2 to 55.5. This indicates a significant discrepancy in the air quality that communities are experiencing.
• The state with the cleanest air is Hawaii, with an AQI score of 19.2, while California trails at the other end of the spectrum with an AQI of 55.5, rendering it the state with the poorest air quality.
• Despite being geographically proximate, states differ remarkably in their air quality values. For example, Arizona scores an AQI of 52.3, while its neighbor, Nevada, scores significantly lower at 45.0.
• States known for their vast wilderness and lower industrial activity tend to have better air quality. Such states, Alaska (25.8) and Washington (29.9), are ranked within the top five for the best air quality.
• On the contrary, states with higher urbanization and industrial activities generally struggle with higher AQI scores. For instance, Illinois features an AQI of 42.8, which situates it amongst the top ten states with the most challenging air quality.