Pinal, Arizona Air Quality Today
AirHistory tracks long-run EPA monitoring rather than live readings, so for the live number check AirNow.gov below. As a baseline, Pinal, Arizona's most recent EPA year (2023) posted a median AQI of 64 (Moderate) against a 5-year median of 66 and an overall Grade of D. The dominant pollutant is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10), which tells you which days are most likely to spike.
Check Today's Live AQI in Pinal, Arizona
AirHistory is built on 10 years of EPA Air Quality System records, so it shows you what air quality in Pinal, Arizona typically looks like — not the live reading for this exact hour. For today's real-time AQI, check AirNow.gov (the EPA's official live index) or the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map during wildfire season.
That said, the history is the best predictor of a normal day. In 2023, Pinal, Arizona posted a median AQI of 64 (Moderate), with 109 "Good" days and 45 days that crossed into "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse. The dominant pollutant, Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10), is the one most likely to push today's number up — Coarse particulate matter — particles up to 10 micrometers across — typically comes from dust, construction sites, agriculture, unpaved roads, and natural sources like windblown soil. PM10 is less hazardous than PM2.5 because the larger particles do not penetrate as deeply into the lungs, but high levels still aggravate asthma and irritate airways.
Pinal, Arizona Air Quality Snapshot
| Air Quality Grade | D40/100 |
| 5-Year Median AQI | 66 (Moderate) |
| Most Recent Median AQI (2023) | 64 (Moderate) |
| Dominant Pollutant | Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) |
| 10-Year Trend | Improving (-0.55 AQI/yr) |
| Unhealthy Days (last 5 yr) | 251 |
| National Rank (cleanest = #1) | #1011 of 1,020 (99th most polluted percentile) |
| Arizona Rank | #12 of 13 |
What Does the D Grade Mean?
Pinal, Arizona earns a D — air quality falls below the U.S. average, with a 5-year median AQI of 66. Residents with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or young children should watch daily AQI forecasts and limit outdoor exertion when alerts go out.
Pinal, Arizona's 5-year median AQI of 66 is 25 points above the national average of 41 — meaningfully more polluted than the typical U.S. metro tracked here. Within Arizona, Pinal, Arizona runs more polluted than the state average of 46 — local sources or geography are concentrating pollution above the state's typical reading.
For context within Arizona: Apache, Arizona currently holds the state's cleanest grade (A, AQI 13), while Maricopa, Arizona sits at the bottom (F, AQI 90).
What's in Pinal, Arizona's Air?
The dominant pollutant in Pinal, Arizona is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10). Coarse particulate matter — particles up to 10 micrometers across — typically comes from dust, construction sites, agriculture, unpaved roads, and natural sources like windblown soil. PM10 is less hazardous than PM2.5 because the larger particles do not penetrate as deeply into the lungs, but high levels still aggravate asthma and irritate airways.
Days by Dominant Pollutant (2023)
| Pollutant | Days as Dominant | Share of Year |
|---|---|---|
| Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10) | 166 | 45% |
| Ground-Level Ozone | 155 | 42% |
| Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) | 44 | 12% |
Is the Air Getting Better or Worse?
Air quality in Pinal, Arizona has been improving over the past decade, with median AQI dropping by roughly 0.6 points per year. That is consistent with the broader national pattern — most U.S. metros have seen steady reductions in particulate and ozone pollution since the 2010s as cleaner vehicles and power plants come online.
In 2014, Pinal, Arizona posted a median AQI of 72. By 2023 that figure was 64 — a drop of 8 AQI points cleaner across 10 years of EPA records.
Year-by-Year AQI in Pinal, Arizona
| Year | Median AQI | Good Days | Unhealthy Days | Dominant Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 72 | 51 | 87 | PM10 |
| 2015 | 63 | 86 | 46 | PM10 |
| 2016 | 69 | 57 | 53 | PM10 |
| 2017 | 75 | 55 | 68 | PM10 |
| 2018 | 67 | 71 | 51 | PM10 |
| 2019 | 63 | 104 | 33 | PM10 |
| 2020 | 73 | 86 | 84 | PM10 |
| 2021 | 70 | 72 | 53 | PM10 |
| 2022 | 61 | 91 | 36 | PM10 |
| 2023 | 64 | 109 | 45 | PM10 |
Health Context for Pinal, Arizona
Across the past five years, this area has logged 251 days where AQI rose into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range or worse — about 50 days per year, or roughly one in three days on the calendar. That count places this area in the worst tier nationally and is the dominant driver of the D grade.
Treat daily AQI forecasts as essential input. On flagged days, sensitive groups (asthma, COPD, heart disease, pregnancy, young children, older adults) should limit outdoor exertion and keep windows closed. A HEPA air cleaner sized to a bedroom or family room can cut indoor PM2.5 by 80%+ during smoke or pollution events. PM10 is largely a near-source pollutant — staying upwind of busy roads, construction, and unpaved areas can substantially reduce exposure.
How This Grade Is Calculated
The AirHistory Air Quality Grade combines four signals: the 5-year median AQI (40% of the score), the 10-year trend direction (30%), the count of unhealthy days per year (20%), and the dominant pollutant type (10%). All four come directly from the EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which aggregates readings from federally certified monitors. Read the full methodology.
More about Pinal, Arizona
Pinal, Arizona has an Air Quality Grade of D (poor) with a 5-year median AQI of 66. The dominant pollutant is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10), and air quality has been improving over the past decade.
The data source behind this answer is the EPA Air Quality System (AQS). Every figure on the page traces back to that source; the methodology page describes the inputs and the refresh cadence in full detail.
A practical caveat: the headline answer above reflects the most recent the EPA Air Quality System (AQS) vintage; underlying data is often revised for months after first publication, and the right reference for any specific decision is whichever vintage is current at the time of the decision. The as-of date is stamped on every page.
Source: EPA Outdoor Air Quality Data, 2026.