Ponce, Puerto Rico Air Quality
Ponce County, Puerto Rico (PR)
→ Stableover 10 years
How Ponce, Puerto Rico Air Quality Compares
Ponce, Puerto Rico's median AQI of 30is 27% better than the national average of 41. Air quality has worsened by 10 AQI points over the past decade. The area averages 2 unhealthy air days per year. The primary pollutant of concern is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10).
Ponce, Puerto Rico Air Quality: The Full Picture
Ponce, Puerto Rico (Ponce County) holds an AirHistory Air Quality Grade of B (good, scoring 70 out of 100), built from 10 years of EPA Air Quality System monitoring. Its median AQI rose 10 points between 2014 (20) and 2023 (30), and the five-year median now sits at 29 — 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 192 of 340 monitored days (56% of the year), making it the controlling pollutant for the B grade. The single worst reading logged that year hit an AQI of 83 (Moderate), while the 90th-percentile day — the level the dirtiest 10% of days reach — came in at 58.
In 2023, Ponce County recorded 258 "Good" air days (76% of the 340 days with valid AQI data), 82 "Moderate" days, and 0 days at "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or above. Over the most recent five years on record, monitors logged 10 days that crossed into "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" or worse — about 2 per year.
The decade-long trend is essentially flat, with year-to-year median AQI shifting by less than 0.22 points per year on average. The cleanest year in the record was 2022 (median AQI 18), and the most polluted was 2018 (median AQI 55). Because the data come straight from federally certified EPA monitors, these figures track the Puerto Rico 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 30 | 58 | 83 | 258 | 82 | 0 | PM10 |
| 2022 | 18 | 51 | 99 | 264 | 31 | 0 | CO |
| 2021 | 30 | 61 | 380 | 176 | 37 | 4 | PM10 |
| 2020 | 23 | 52 | 81 | 319 | 41 | 0 | PM10 |
| 2019 | 43 | 69 | 136 | 204 | 141 | 6 | PM2.5 |
| 2018 | 55 | 74 | 118 | 146 | 206 | 5 | PM2.5 |
| 2017 | 31 | 58 | 259 | 194 | 54 | 1 | PM10 |
| 2016 | 25 | 47 | 73 | 331 | 33 | 0 | PM10 |
| 2015 | 24 | 51 | 69 | 328 | 37 | 0 | PM10 |
| 2014 | 20 | 51 | 68 | 314 | 36 | 0 | PM10 |
What This Means for Ponce County Residents
Ponce, Puerto Rico has received an Air Quality Grade of B (70/100) based on a decade of monitoring data from the EPA's air quality monitoring program. The current median AQI of 30 falls in the "Good" range.
The primary pollutant affecting this area is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10). Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 2 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 Puerto Rico
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ponce, Puerto Rico has a current median AQI of 30, which falls in the "Good" range. The area has received an Air Quality Grade of B (70/100) based on 10 years of EPA monitoring data.
Air quality in Ponce, Puerto Rico is stable over the past decade. The median AQI has changed by +10 points from 2014 to 2023.
Ponce, Puerto Rico averages 2 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 Ponce, Puerto Rico is Coarse Particulate Matter (PM10). This is the dominant contributor to elevated AQI readings in the Ponce County area.
Ponce, Puerto Rico averages 2 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 30 (Good), outdoor exercise in Ponce, Puerto Rico is generally safe year-round. Ponce, Puerto Rico averages 2 days per year when athletes should move workouts indoors.