Lee, North Carolina Air Quality
Lee County, North Carolina (NC)
→ Stableover 5 years
How Lee, North Carolina Air Quality Compares
Lee, North Carolina's median AQI of 52is 27% worse than the national average of 41. The area rarely experiences unhealthy air quality days. The primary pollutant of concern is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).
Lee, North Carolina Air Quality: The Full Picture
Lee, North Carolina (Lee County) holds an AirHistory Air Quality Grade of C (fair, scoring 60 out of 100), built from 5 years of EPA Air Quality System monitoring. Its median AQI rose 1 points between 2014 (51) and 2018 (52), and the five-year median now sits at 52 — inside the "Moderate" band on the EPA scale.
The pollutant driving most of the area's AQI readings is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). In 2018, it set the daily AQI on 134 of 210 monitored days (64% of the year), making it the controlling pollutant for the C grade. The single worst reading logged that year hit an AQI of 85 (Moderate), while the 90th-percentile day — the level the dirtiest 10% of days reach — came in at 63.
In 2018, Lee County recorded 95 "Good" air days (45% of the 210 days with valid AQI data), 115 "Moderate" days, and 0 days at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or above. Over the most recent five years on record, monitors logged no days that crossed into "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse.
The decade-long trend is essentially flat, with year-to-year median AQI shifting by less than 0.00 points per year on average. The cleanest year in the record was 2016 (median AQI 48), and the most polluted was 2018 (median AQI 52). Because the data come straight from federally certified EPA monitors, these figures track the North Carolina county the monitors physically sit in rather than a city boundary.
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10-Year AQI Trend
The solid line shows the median AQI each year. The dashed line shows the 90th percentile (worst 10% of days).
Air Quality Day Breakdown
Number of days per year in each EPA AQI category. Green = Good (AQI 0-50), Yellow = Moderate (51-100), Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Red = Unhealthy or worse (151+).
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Median AQI | 90th Pct | Max AQI | Good Days | Moderate | Unhealthy+ | Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 52 | 63 | 85 | 95 | 115 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2017 | 49 | 62 | 97 | 193 | 167 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2016 | 48 | 61 | 100 | 194 | 169 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2015 | 51 | 64 | 94 | 179 | 185 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2014 | 51 | 63 | 108 | 175 | 189 | 1 | PM2.5 |
What This Means for Lee County Residents
Lee, North Carolina has received an Air Quality Grade of C (60/100) based on a decade of monitoring data from the EPA's air quality monitoring program. The current median AQI of 52 falls in the "Moderate" range.
The primary pollutant affecting this area is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 0 unhealthy air quality days per year, days when sensitive groups (children, elderly, those with respiratory conditions) should limit outdoor activity. The American Lung Association's State of the Air report provides additional context on long-term health risks from air pollution exposure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Lee, North Carolina has a current median AQI of 52, which falls in the "Moderate" range. The area has received an Air Quality Grade of C (60/100) based on 10 years of EPA monitoring data.
Air quality in Lee, North Carolina is stable over the past decade. The median AQI has changed by +1 points from 2014 to 2018.
Lee, North Carolina averages 0 unhealthy air quality days per year over the past 5 years. On these days, sensitive groups including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions should limit outdoor activity.
The primary pollutant affecting Lee, North Carolina is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). This is the dominant contributor to elevated AQI readings in the Lee County area.
Lee, North Carolina averages 0 unhealthy air days per year. This is relatively low, making it a reasonable choice for asthma sufferers. The primary pollutant is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), which is a known asthma trigger.
With a median AQI of 52 (Moderate), outdoor exercise in Lee, North Carolina is safe most days, though sensitive individuals should check daily AQI before intense workouts. Lee, North Carolina averages 0 days per year when athletes should move workouts indoors.