Rock Island, Illinois Air Quality
Rock Island County, Illinois (IL)
↑ Worseningover 10 years
How Rock Island, Illinois Air Quality Compares
Rock Island, Illinois's median AQI of 51is 24% worse than the national average of 41. Air quality has worsened by 17 AQI points over the past decade. The area averages 5 unhealthy air days per year. The primary pollutant of concern is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).
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 in this area has been declining over the past 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 | 51 | 77 | 232 | 178 | 167 | 20 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 47 | 64 | 90 | 214 | 146 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 49 | 66 | 112 | 191 | 167 | 3 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 43 | 61 | 102 | 234 | 120 | 1 | PM2.5 |
| 2019 | 45 | 63 | 115 | 221 | 138 | 2 | PM2.5 |
| 2018 | 46 | 63 | 101 | 212 | 152 | 1 | PM2.5 |
| 2017 | 42 | 61 | 93 | 270 | 93 | 0 | Ozone |
| 2016 | 34 | 52 | 108 | 298 | 44 | 1 | Ozone |
| 2015 | 36 | 55 | 105 | 308 | 56 | 1 | Ozone |
| 2014 | 34 | 54 | 74 | 311 | 38 | 0 | Ozone |
What This Means for Rock Island County Residents
Rock Island, Illinois has received an Air Quality Grade of D (46/100) based on a decade of monitoring data from the EPA's air quality monitoring program. The current median AQI of 51 falls in the "Moderate" range.
Concerning trends show air quality has been declining, with the median AQI rising by 17 points over the monitoring period. This could be driven by increased development, wildfire smoke, or industrial activity.
The primary pollutant affecting this area is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 5 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 Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
Rock Island, Illinois has a current median AQI of 51, which falls in the "Moderate" range. The area has received an Air Quality Grade of D (46/100) based on 10 years of EPA monitoring data.
Air quality in Rock Island, Illinois is worsening over the past decade. The median AQI has changed by +17 points from 2014 to 2023.
Rock Island, Illinois averages 5 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 Rock Island, Illinois is Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). This is the dominant contributor to elevated AQI readings in the Rock Island County area.
Rock Island, Illinois averages 5 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 51 (Moderate), outdoor exercise in Rock Island, Illinois is safe most days, though sensitive individuals should check daily AQI before intense workouts. Rock Island, Illinois averages 5 days per year when athletes should move workouts indoors.
this entity is one of the data points covered by this site’s U.S. air quality and pollution monitoring dataset. The detail above comes directly from the EPA Air Quality System (AQS); the context that follows situates the headline numbers against the broader distribution across U.S. counties and states.
The methodology behind every numeric value on this page is publicly documented on the the EPA Air Quality System (AQS) portal and described in detail on this site’s methodology page. Refresh cadence varies by underlying series; the page surfaces the as-of date for each number so readers can trace any figure back to the source release.
For readers using this page as a decision input, the related-entity pages elsewhere on the site provide the comparison set. The most useful comparison for this entity is typically a peer within U.S. counties and states with similar size, similar exposure, or similar geography — not the national-level summary alone.