Luna, New Mexico Air Quality
Luna County, New Mexico (NM)
↓ Improvingover 10 years
How Luna, New Mexico Air Quality Compares
Luna, New Mexico's median AQI of 16is 61% better than the national average of 41. Air quality has improved by 28 AQI points over the past decade. The area averages 3 unhealthy air days per year. The primary pollutant of concern is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10).
Luna, New Mexico Air Quality: The Full Picture
Luna, New Mexico (Luna County) holds an AirHistory Air Quality Grade of A (excellent, scoring 87 out of 100), built from 10 years of EPA Air Quality System monitoring. Its median AQI fell 28 points between 2014 (44) and 2023 (16), and the five-year median now sits at 17 — inside the "Good" band on the EPA scale.
The pollutant driving most of the area's AQI readings is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10). In 2023, it set the daily AQI on 351 of 351 monitored days (100% of the year), making it the controlling pollutant for the A grade. The single worst reading logged that year hit an AQI of 157 (Unhealthy), while the 90th-percentile day — the level the dirtiest 10% of days reach — came in at 35.
In 2023, Luna County recorded 334 "Good" air days (95% of the 351 days with valid AQI data), 15 "Moderate" days, and 2 days at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or above. Over the most recent five years on record, monitors logged 17 days that crossed into "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse — about 3 per year.
The decade-long trend is improving: median AQI has been dropping by roughly 1.45 points per year. The cleanest year in the record was 2019 (median AQI 12), and the most polluted was 2014 (median AQI 44). Because the data come straight from federally certified EPA monitors, these figures track the New Mexico 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). This area has seen measurable air quality improvement over the decade.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | 35 | 157 | 334 | 15 | 2 | PM10 |
| 2022 | 17 | 52 | 806 | 317 | 32 | 9 | PM10 |
| 2021 | 19 | 40 | 462 | 339 | 20 | 3 | PM10 |
| 2020 | 19 | 40 | 353 | 335 | 18 | 1 | PM10 |
| 2019 | 12 | 29 | 630 | 349 | 10 | 2 | PM10 |
| 2018 | 16 | 32 | 137 | 343 | 11 | 3 | PM10 |
| 2017 | 19 | 36 | 136 | 340 | 15 | 5 | PM10 |
| 2016 | 17 | 39 | 162 | 338 | 19 | 3 | PM10 |
| 2015 | 16 | 27 | 75 | 351 | 4 | 0 | PM10 |
| 2014 | 44 | 54 | 224 | 305 | 55 | 4 | Ozone |
What This Means for Luna County Residents
Luna, New Mexico has received an Air Quality Grade of A (87/100) based on a decade of monitoring data from the EPA's air quality monitoring program. The current median AQI of 16 falls in the "Good" range.
Encouragingly, air quality here has been improving, with the median AQI dropping by 28 points over the monitoring period. This trend suggests continued investment in emission controls and cleaner energy.
The primary pollutant affecting this area is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10). Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 3 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.
Related Cities in New Mexico
Frequently Asked Questions
Luna, New Mexico has a current median AQI of 16, which falls in the "Good" range. The area has received an Air Quality Grade of A (87/100) based on 10 years of EPA monitoring data.
Air quality in Luna, New Mexico is improving over the past decade. The median AQI has changed by -28 points from 2014 to 2023.
Luna, New Mexico averages 3 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 Luna, New Mexico is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10). This is the dominant contributor to elevated AQI readings in the Luna County area.
Luna, New Mexico averages 3 unhealthy air days per year. This is relatively low, making it a reasonable choice for asthma sufferers. The primary pollutant is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10), which can affect respiratory health.
With a median AQI of 16 (Good), outdoor exercise in Luna, New Mexico is generally safe year-round. Luna, New Mexico averages 3 days per year when athletes should move workouts indoors.