U.S. air quality has sustained a steady improvement since 1970, a positive trend documented in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) annual interactive report tracking air pollution data.

Our Nation’s Air: Trends Through 2021 documents long-term trends in air quality and emissions data and notes that between 1970 and 2021, the combined emissions of the six common pollutants (2.5 μm and 10 μm particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and lead) dropped by 77%. Ambient monitoring data show that some toxic air pollutants, such as benzene, 1,3-butadiene and several metals, are also declining at most sites.

This progress occurred during a period of steady economic and population growth. The reductions are largely attributed to federal and state implementation of stationary and mobile source regulations.

The 2021 interactive report includes a new tool to explore the latest (2017) air toxics emissions data and risks. This summary tool provides access to community-level information regarding potential cancer risk and noncancer hazards from air toxics emissions. Coupled with EPA’s newly released Air Toxics Screening Assessment AirToxScreen, this tool gives communities — especially those with environmental justice concerns — more complete information about their air quality.