The Environmental Protection Act (EPA) established an Air Quality Index for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act. Each of these pollutants has a national air quality standard set by the EPA to protect public health. They are: 1) ground-level ozone, 2) particle pollution (also known as particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10), 3) carbon monoxide, 4) sulfur dioxide, and 5) nitrogen dioxide. Bexar County is in non-attainment.
In 2019, San Antonio City Council adopted the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. This plan offers strategies to address environmental challenges and ensure that San Antonio is a healthy, livable place for current and future generations. A dashboard and more specific action plans can be found at SA Climate Ready.
San Antonio businesses can register for the air pollution control program through the Metropolitan Health Department. This program assists businesses in identifying air pollution issues.
Decrease air quality index to 68 parts per billion (68 by 2030)
| Year | Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 75 | |
| 2011 | 75 | |
| 2012 | 80 | |
| 2013 | 81 | |
| 2014 | 80 | |
| 2015 | 78 | |
| 2016 | 73 | |
| 2017 | 74 | |
| 2018 | 72 | |
| 2019 | 73 | |
| 2020 | 72 | |
| 2021 | 73 | |
| 2022 | 75 |
Air Quality Index Parts per Billion
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
San Antonio
The Annual Air Quality Index is a summary measure of overall air quality for the year. In order to be in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency's ground-level ozone standard, a location should have a 3-year average of fewer than 76 parts per billion (ppb). This standard is based on the presence of harmful ozone (O3) molecules outside the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
