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.

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.

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.