Air Quality Index (AQI) rating and main air pollutant count by day, from 2010 to 2024.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) summarizes in one measure the levels of ground-level ozone, particulate matter (such as soot), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxide. 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.

Air Quality

Erie County's count of Good AQI peaked in 2020 with 297 good days, a +8.75% increase in Good days over 2019. From 2008 to 2013, the number of Good days fluctuated but generally trended downward, reaching a low of 129 days in 2013. From 2014 onwards, there was a notable increase in the number of Good days. However, after 2021, the number of Good days began to decline, with a marked drop to 240 days in 2023. This trend highlights periods of both improvement and decline in air quality over the years, with a peak in 2021 and a subsequent decrease in the following years.

EVS analyzes the data in each topic category using indicators, which report a targeted and digestible number, rate, or amount to represent Erie County as a whole. While this does not cover every aspect of the topic, it assists in establishing Erie's performance relative to the prior year(s). The indicators for the Livability: Air Quality topic are:

This indicator measures the days in the last full year for which Erie County's air was of good or higher AQI rating. The trend for Air Quality was down in 2023, with a reported 46 days decreased of good air quality days in 2022 within the County.

Data from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as of 08/2024.