Pittsburgh Air Quality in 2019
In 2019, Pittsburgh's air quality (Pittsburgh, PA area) had a median daily AQI of 61 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 12 days (3.3%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 58 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 165 (Unhealthy). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 317 of those days. The cleanest month of 2019 was June (median AQI 56, 0 days above 100) and the worst was December (median 65, 6 days above 100, peak 152).
- Good: 15.9%
- Moderate: 80.8%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 2.2%
- Unhealthy or worse: 1.1%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Pittsburgh
Today's main pollutant in Pittsburgh is ground-level ozone (AQI 27). Important: standard HEPA filters do NOT remove ozone — only a purifier with a substantial activated-carbon bed adsorbs it. The biggest wins are cutting indoor sources (gas appliances, certain "ionizer" purifiers) and ventilating when outdoor ozone is low (early morning). A high-carbon unit helps with the gases and VOCs that linger indoors.
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How was Pittsburgh's air quality in 2019?
Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 61, with 12 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 6th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2019: 165 (Unhealthy).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 317 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: June; worst: December.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Pittsburgh in 2019?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Pittsburgh's (Pittsburgh, PA) median daily AQI for 2019 at 61, which is Moderate. 12 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 165.
Which month had the worst air quality in Pittsburgh in 2019?▾
The cleanest month of 2019 was June (median AQI 56, 0 days above 100) and the worst was December (median 65, 6 days above 100, peak 152).
Was 2019 a good or bad year for Pittsburgh's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2019 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2019's median of 61 is above the area's typical annual median of 58.
Pittsburgh month by month in 2019
Pittsburgh air quality month by month, 2019 (Pittsburgh, PA, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 60 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 58 | 4 | 165 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 62 | 2 | 108 | PM2.5 |
| April | 30 | 58 | 0 | 92 | PM2.5 |
| May | 31 | 61 | 0 | 87 | PM2.5 |
| Junecleanest | 30 | 56 | 0 | 90 | PM2.5 |
| July | 31 | 69 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 60 | 0 | 80 | PM2.5 |
| September | 30 | 61 | 0 | 93 | PM2.5 |
| October | 31 | 57 | 0 | 95 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 61 | 0 | 96 | PM2.5 |
| Decemberworst | 31 | 65 | 6 | 152 | PM2.5 |
How 2019 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2019 ranks 6th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2019's median of 61 is above the area's typical annual median of 58.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Pittsburgh
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Pittsburgh's AQI at 27 (O3). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Pittsburgh air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Pittsburgh, PA), 2019–2025. Daily AQI per CBSA is the highest AQI reported by any monitor in the area that day; the defining parameter is the pollutant that set it. Month and season statistics pool every such day in the period across all years listed. Retrieved 2026-09-09.