Description of the Indicator
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measurement used to assess nationwide air quality, based on the following five pollutants: ground-level ozone (smog), particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. A score from 0 to 50 is considered “good”; a score from 51 to 100 is considered “moderate”; a score from 101 to 150 is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups” (such as people with asthma, individuals 65 years or older, and people with heart or lung disease); a score ranging from 151 to 200 is considered “unhealthy for everyone”; a score from 201 to 300 is considered “very unhealthy”; and anything above 301 is considered “hazardous for everyone.” The data below details the air quality for Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties, along with the numbers of unhealthy days in each county. Information for Wayne County was unavailable.
Why is it important?
Air quality awareness allows for better protection of public health and environmental well-being. Monitoring pollution levels and identifying sources of pollution are essential for developing effective mitigation efforts.
How is the region doing?
Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties have reported low counts of unhealthy AQI days over the past several years, though information for Luzerne County has been limited. The 2024 median AQI for Lackawanna County was 37, which represents a slight increase in quality. The medians have remained in the ‘Good’ range for all years analyzed. AQI has improved by 15.9 percent in Lackawanna County from 2000 to 2024, and by 17.8 percent in Luzerne County from 2000 to 2022.