Community

Increasing


Days with Good Air Quality

What does this measure?

The percentage of days for which air quality was monitored and found to be good, indicating healthy air both for sensitive groups, such as people with asthma, and for the population as a whole. The Air Quality Index (AQI) summarizes levels of ground-level ozone, particulate matter (soot and other particles), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide into one measure.

Why is this important?

Air quality is increasingly recognized as a "social determinant of health": a condition determined by the community in which one lives that is external to an individual person's control but has an impact on their health and well-being.

How does our county compare?

In 2024, 52% of days in Lancaster were healthy air days, above 41% in 2010. The year with the fewest healthy air days was 2014, at 16%. Lancaster lags behind its peer counties in air quality: in 2024, Berks had 69% of its days with good air quality, Chester and Cumberland both had 73%, Dauphin had 56%, and Lebanon and York both had 66%. The air quality of Cumberland, Chester and York have all increased by significant amounts since 2010.

Notes about the data

Comparable national and state data is not available due to the quantity and location of EPA monitoring stations. Exposure to these pollutants can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Continued exposure can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

Days with Good Air Quality
201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Lancaster County41%25%26%42%16%33%32%33%46%44%48%27%23%30%52%
Berks County52%37%31%36%42%41%37%50%62%63%63%54%66%56%69%
Chester County33%37%48%42%42%36%43%38%61%61%66%62%68%61%73%
Cumberland County27%31%38%39%39%37%48%61%51%49%65%57%59%58%73%
Dauphin County45%40%39%38%41%33%51%56%61%64%60%43%54%46%56%
York County38%27%33%46%42%37%48%54%56%64%60%47%56%56%66%
Lebanon County45%31%46%35%48%26%31%56%61%68%54%62%56%66%

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Notes: Data were not available for the state or for some counties because they do not have air quality monitoring stations.




Number of Days with Good Air Quality
201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Lancaster County14993961525812111712216716017710084108189
Berks County190134115132155148136184226230227198240206254
Chester County117127170154154133158137220223233215249220264
Cumberland County99114138141141133175220187178236209213212260
Dauphin County165147144139149120188204222232219155198169206
York County13997120169155134176198206232221168205198240
Lebanon County13711416912817495114206219116197224204242

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Notes: Data were not available for the state or for some counties because they do not have air quality monitoring stations.




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