EnviroNearby

Queens County, New York air quality history

Daily Air Quality Index summaries from EPA monitors in Queens, New York, 1980–2025.

64%
Good days in 2025
44
Median daily AQI, 2025
7
Days above 100 in 2025
365
Days with an AQI in 2025 (of 365)

In 2025, EPA reported a daily Air Quality Index (AQI) for Queens, New York on 365 days. 232 of those days (64%) were in the Good range, and the median daily AQI was 44. That median is higher than the typical monitored county in New York (median 36 across 27 counties), and higher than the typical monitored U.S. county (40). The main pollutant was fine particles (PM2.5) on 180 days. Across the years with fuller monitoring, the share of Good days fell: an average of 78% in 1980–1982 versus 59% in 2023–2025.

How the days broke down each year

Each bar is one year. The colored segments show the share of monitored days that fell in each AQI category.

Share of monitored days in each AQI category, by year0%25%50%75%100%1980: Good 249 of 366 days1980: Moderate 67 of 366 days1980: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 21 of 366 days1980: Unhealthy 16 of 366 days1980: Very Unhealthy 13 of 366 days19801981: Good 302 of 365 days1981: Moderate 37 of 365 days1981: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 11 of 365 days1981: Unhealthy 12 of 365 days1981: Very Unhealthy 3 of 365 days1982: Good 287 of 345 days1982: Moderate 28 of 345 days1982: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 17 of 345 days1982: Unhealthy 11 of 345 days1982: Very Unhealthy 2 of 345 days1983: Good 242 of 314 days1983: Moderate 33 of 314 days1983: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 18 of 314 days1983: Unhealthy 14 of 314 days1983: Very Unhealthy 7 of 314 days1984: Good 290 of 331 days1984: Moderate 26 of 331 days1984: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 11 of 331 days1984: Unhealthy 4 of 331 days1985: Good 294 of 347 days1985: Moderate 27 of 347 days1985: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 17 of 347 days1985: Unhealthy 7 of 347 days1985: Very Unhealthy 2 of 347 days19851986: Good 305 of 339 days1986: Moderate 19 of 339 days1986: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 12 of 339 days1986: Unhealthy 2 of 339 days1986: Very Unhealthy 1 of 339 days1987: Good 293 of 344 days1987: Moderate 24 of 344 days1987: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 15 of 344 days1987: Unhealthy 10 of 344 days1987: Very Unhealthy 2 of 344 days1988: Good 281 of 326 days1988: Moderate 19 of 326 days1988: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 14 of 326 days1988: Unhealthy 9 of 326 days1988: Very Unhealthy 3 of 326 days1989: Good 329 of 363 days1989: Moderate 24 of 363 days1989: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 10 of 363 days1990: Good 306 of 348 days1990: Moderate 23 of 348 days1990: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 8 of 348 days1990: Unhealthy 9 of 348 days1990: Very Unhealthy 2 of 348 days19901991: Good 289 of 349 days1991: Moderate 30 of 349 days1991: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 15 of 349 days1991: Unhealthy 10 of 349 days1991: Very Unhealthy 5 of 349 days1992: Good 244 of 269 days1992: Moderate 21 of 269 days1992: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 269 days1992: Unhealthy 1 of 269 days1993: Good 277 of 310 days1993: Moderate 22 of 310 days1993: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 10 of 310 days1993: Unhealthy 1 of 310 days1994: Good 249 of 284 days1994: Moderate 24 of 284 days1994: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6 of 284 days1994: Unhealthy 5 of 284 days1995: Good 298 of 329 days1995: Moderate 17 of 329 days1995: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 7 of 329 days1995: Unhealthy 6 of 329 days1995: Very Unhealthy 1 of 329 days19951996: Good 312 of 349 days1996: Moderate 23 of 349 days1996: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 12 of 349 days1996: Unhealthy 2 of 349 days1997: Good 181 of 223 days1997: Moderate 21 of 223 days1997: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 12 of 223 days1997: Unhealthy 7 of 223 days1997: Very Unhealthy 2 of 223 days1998: Good 148 of 226 days1998: Moderate 53 of 226 days1998: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 17 of 226 days1998: Unhealthy 8 of 226 days1999: Good 222 of 365 days1999: Moderate 120 of 365 days1999: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 13 of 365 days1999: Unhealthy 10 of 365 days2000: Good 192 of 366 days2000: Moderate 160 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 11 of 366 days2000: Unhealthy 2 of 366 days2000: Very Unhealthy 1 of 366 days20002001: Good 151 of 365 days2001: Moderate 192 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 19 of 365 days2001: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days2002: Good 144 of 365 days2002: Moderate 193 of 365 days2002: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 21 of 365 days2002: Unhealthy 7 of 365 days2003: Good 128 of 364 days2003: Moderate 220 of 364 days2003: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 11 of 364 days2003: Unhealthy 5 of 364 days2004: Good 147 of 366 days2004: Moderate 209 of 366 days2004: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 10 of 366 days2005: Good 157 of 365 days2005: Moderate 190 of 365 days2005: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 14 of 365 days2005: Unhealthy 4 of 365 days20052006: Good 179 of 365 days2006: Moderate 172 of 365 days2006: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 13 of 365 days2006: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2007: Good 137 of 365 days2007: Moderate 213 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 14 of 365 days2007: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2008: Good 114 of 366 days2008: Moderate 239 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 11 of 366 days2008: Unhealthy 2 of 366 days2009: Good 158 of 365 days2009: Moderate 205 of 365 days2009: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 365 days2010: Good 163 of 365 days2010: Moderate 191 of 365 days2010: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 8 of 365 days2010: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days20102011: Good 155 of 365 days2011: Moderate 197 of 365 days2011: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 10 of 365 days2011: Unhealthy 3 of 365 days2012: Good 190 of 366 days2012: Moderate 162 of 366 days2012: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 14 of 366 days2013: Good 204 of 365 days2013: Moderate 156 of 365 days2013: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 5 of 365 days2014: Good 198 of 365 days2014: Moderate 166 of 365 days2014: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 1 of 365 days2015: Good 201 of 365 days2015: Moderate 159 of 365 days2015: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 5 of 365 days20152016: Good 245 of 366 days2016: Moderate 115 of 366 days2016: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6 of 366 days2017: Good 228 of 365 days2017: Moderate 131 of 365 days2017: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 5 of 365 days2017: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2018: Good 229 of 365 days2018: Moderate 128 of 365 days2018: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 8 of 365 days2019: Good 234 of 365 days2019: Moderate 127 of 365 days2019: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 4 of 365 days2020: Good 258 of 366 days2020: Moderate 105 of 366 days2020: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 366 days20202021: Good 215 of 365 days2021: Moderate 141 of 365 days2021: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 8 of 365 days2021: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2022: Good 203 of 365 days2022: Moderate 159 of 365 days2022: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 3 of 365 days2023: Good 188 of 365 days2023: Moderate 165 of 365 days2023: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 7 of 365 days2023: Unhealthy 4 of 365 days2023: Very Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2024: Good 224 of 366 days2024: Moderate 140 of 366 days2024: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 2 of 366 days2025: Good 232 of 365 days2025: Moderate 126 of 365 days2025: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 6 of 365 days2025: Unhealthy 1 of 365 days2025
  • Good
  • Moderate
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
  • Unhealthy
  • Very Unhealthy
  • Hazardous

Typical and high-end AQI over time

The median is the middle day of the year. The 90th percentile is the level that only the highest 10% of days exceeded.

Median and 90th-percentile daily AQI, by year0501001501980: 90th percentile AQI 1261981: 90th percentile AQI 841982: 90th percentile AQI 871983: 90th percentile AQI 1151984: 90th percentile AQI 611985: 90th percentile AQI 771986: 90th percentile AQI 541987: 90th percentile AQI 771988: 90th percentile AQI 871989: 90th percentile AQI 481990: 90th percentile AQI 661991: 90th percentile AQI 931992: 90th percentile AQI 491993: 90th percentile AQI 511994: 90th percentile AQI 741995: 90th percentile AQI 501996: 90th percentile AQI 511997: 90th percentile AQI 901998: 90th percentile AQI 1051999: 90th percentile AQI 802000: 90th percentile AQI 792001: 90th percentile AQI 872002: 90th percentile AQI 932003: 90th percentile AQI 842004: 90th percentile AQI 772005: 90th percentile AQI 812006: 90th percentile AQI 782007: 90th percentile AQI 872008: 90th percentile AQI 802009: 90th percentile AQI 722010: 90th percentile AQI 772011: 90th percentile AQI 742012: 90th percentile AQI 712013: 90th percentile AQI 662014: 90th percentile AQI 632015: 90th percentile AQI 712016: 90th percentile AQI 652017: 90th percentile AQI 642018: 90th percentile AQI 642019: 90th percentile AQI 612020: 90th percentile AQI 642021: 90th percentile AQI 672022: 90th percentile AQI 672023: 90th percentile AQI 722024: 90th percentile AQI 682025: 90th percentile AQI 641980: Median AQI 321981: Median AQI 271982: Median AQI 271983: Median AQI 221984: Median AQI 221985: Median AQI 231986: Median AQI 211987: Median AQI 251988: Median AQI 251989: Median AQI 251990: Median AQI 241991: Median AQI 261992: Median AQI 221993: Median AQI 261994: Median AQI 221995: Median AQI 221996: Median AQI 251997: Median AQI 341998: Median AQI 451999: Median AQI 462000: Median AQI 492001: Median AQI 542002: Median AQI 552003: Median AQI 562004: Median AQI 542005: Median AQI 542006: Median AQI 512007: Median AQI 552008: Median AQI 562009: Median AQI 522010: Median AQI 522011: Median AQI 532012: Median AQI 502013: Median AQI 472014: Median AQI 472015: Median AQI 482016: Median AQI 442017: Median AQI 442018: Median AQI 452019: Median AQI 452020: Median AQI 432021: Median AQI 472022: Median AQI 472023: Median AQI 502024: Median AQI 452025: Median AQI 441980198519901995200020052010201520202025
  • Median daily AQI
  • 90th-percentile daily AQI

Main pollutant by day, 2025

On each monitored day, the AQI reflects whichever measured pollutant had the highest index. This counts how many days each pollutant set the AQI. A pollutant that was not measured here cannot appear.

PollutantDays as main pollutantShare of monitored days
Fine particles (PM2.5)18049%
Ozone14640%
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)3911%

Year-by-year data

Annual AQI summary by year
YearDays with AQIGoodModerateUnhealthy for Sensitive GroupsUnhealthyVery UnhealthyHazardousMedian AQI90th pct.Max AQIMain pollutant
202536523212661004464154PM2.5
202436622414020004568112PM2.5
202336518816574105072278PM2.5
202236520315930004767126PM2.5
202136521514181004767154PM2.5
202036625810530004364140PM2.5
201936523412740004561119PM2.5
201836522912880004564140PM2.5
201736522813151004464151PM2.5
201636624511560004465143PM2.5
201536520115950004871136PM2.5
201436519816610004763122PM2.5
201336520415650004766133PM2.5
2012366190162140005071143PM2.5
2011365155197103005374177PM2.5
201036516319183005277169PM2.5
200936515820520005272112PM2.5
2008366114239112005680156PM2.5
2007365137213141005587154PM2.5
2006365179172131005178159PM2.5
2005365157190144005481166PM2.5
2004366147209100005477143PM2.5
2003364128220115005684197PM2.5
2002365144193217005593182PM2.5
2001365151192193005487192PM2.5
2000366192160112104979213NO2
19993652221201310004680190NO2
1998226148531780045105182NO2
199722318121127203490215Ozone
199634931223122002551182Ozone
19953292981776102250204Ozone
19942842492465002274187Ozone
199331027722101002651197Ozone
19922692442131002249197Ozone
1991349289301510502693215Ozone
19903483062389202466208Ozone
198936332924100002548147Ozone
198832628119149302587241Ozone
1987344293241510202577249Ozone
198633930519122102154202Ozone
198534729427177202377233Ozone
198433129026114002261182Ozone
19833142423318147022115224Ozone
1982345287281711202787208Ozone
1981365302371112302784237Ozone
198036624967211613032126278CO

What this data can and can’t tell you

It is a county-level summary. EPA reports one AQI per day for the county, based on the monitors operating there. Air at a particular street, school or home can differ, especially near roads, industry or wildfire smoke.

It is not a health assessment. The AQI is EPA’s scale for communicating daily air quality. A county’s history can’t tell you what the health risk is for any particular person. For daily conditions and health guidance, see AirNow.

Rules change over time. EPA has revised AQI breakpoints, most recently for fine particles in 2024, so some year-to-year change can reflect the scale rather than the air.

Counties in New York with a similar median AQI in 2025

All monitored counties in New York

Source: U.S. EPA AirData, “Annual AQI by County” files for 1980–2025 (EPA download page). EPA file dates: 2026-06-26. Imported into EnviroNearby November 5, 2026. How we use this data · Report a problem