Median AQI
38
Good
Alabama · County air quality · 2025
Russell County, Alabama
Median AQI 38 (Good). 81.1% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 38
- Median AQI
- 81.1%
- Good-air days
- 0
- Unhealthy days
- 56%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Russell County's air is good on balance, cleaner than the median US county, a median AQI of 38 with 81.1% of 201 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by Ozone.
- 38
- median AQI · Good
- 81.1%
- days rated Good
- Ozone
- main pollutant
- 56%
- cleaner than US counties
Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 88.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 163 d · 81.1%
- Moderate · 38 d · 18.9%
How did Russell County's air break down in 2025?
Across 201 monitored days, 163 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 88 (Moderate).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 201 days monitored. Median AQI: 38 (Good).
Insights: Russell County, Alabama. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 38 across 201 measured days in 2025, earning a Good classification and a Good health grade. Of those days, 163 (81%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 38 (19%) registered Moderate readings, and 0 (0%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 54, while the worst single-day peak hit 88 (Moderate). Residents averaged about 24.3 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as Ozone (137 days), PM2.5 (64 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -73 and the median AQI moved -6 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at improving. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 88, moderate but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Baldwin (72.2% good, AQI 42); Clay (85.4% good, AQI 32); DeKalb (78.6% good, AQI 42); Elmore (97.2% good, AQI 32); Etowah (63.5% good, AQI 45); Jefferson (36.8% good, AQI 53).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
81.1%
163 of 201 monitored days
6.1pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
88
Moderate
Health Grade
Good
90th-pct AQI 54
Russell County, Good days share 81.1%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Russell County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.0%
National avg
Share of monitored days above AQI 150 (Unhealthy or worse). Bar maxes at 10% (worst-county ceiling).
AQI Day Breakdown (2025)
Distribution of 201 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
163
81%
Moderate
38
19%
USG
0
0%
Unhealthy
0
0%
Very Unhealthy
0
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Russell County.
- Ozone · 137 days · 68.2%
- PM2.5 · 64 days · 31.8%
Health Impact Assessment
Good
Russell County's air quality is rated Good based on 81.1% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.
Air quality was acceptable on 81.1% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 38. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.
The dominant pollutant is Ozone, driving AQI on 137 of 201 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is improving in Russell County. Best year: 2020 (236 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 236 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 99 |
| 2021 | 214 | 147 | 3 | 0 | 47 | 142 |
| 2022 | 208 | 156 | 0 | 0 | 46 | 97 |
| 2023 | 233 | 85 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 93 |
| 2024 | 223 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 98 |
| 2025 | 163 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 88 |
How does Russell County compare?
How Russell County compares
Good-day share better than US avg
Russell County 81.1%
Baldwin County, Alabama 72.2%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI about average
Russell County 38
Baldwin County, Alabama 42
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Russell County 0
Baldwin County, Alabama 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Alabama
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Alabama.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Russell County.
Adams County, Illinois
AQI 38 · 94.4% good
Anoka County, Minnesota
AQI 38 · 82.1% good
Atlantic County, New Jersey
AQI 38 · 79.6% good
Avery County, North Carolina
AQI 38 · 93.9% good
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
AQI 38 · 92.5% good
Bay County, Michigan
AQI 38 · 71.8% good
What Russell County's air means for you
The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with Ozone the main thing to watch.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-Ozone days, the guide explains what a median of 38 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Russell County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Russell County with its Alabama neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Alabama
Based on 201 EPA-monitored days in 2025; figures reflect only days the monitors reported. Source: EPA Air Quality System annual summaries.
More Air Quality Data
Air Quality Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the air quality in Russell County, Alabama? ▼
Russell County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 38, rated "Good." 81.1% of monitored days (163 out of 201) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Russell County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Russell County is Ozone (O3), which was the main AQI driver on 137 days (68% of monitored days). Can trigger asthma, reduce lung function, and cause chest pain.
How many unhealthy air days does Russell County have? ▼
In 2025, Russell County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 88.
Is the air quality in Russell County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Russell County is improving based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 236 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 163 good days.
What does AQI 38 mean for health? ▼
Russell County's median AQI of 38 falls in the "Good" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Russell County compare to other counties in Alabama? ▼
Russell County has 81.1% good air days. Nearby counties in Alabama: Baldwin (72.2% good), Clay (85.4% good), DeKalb (78.6% good), Elmore (97.2% good), Etowah (63.5% good), Jefferson (36.8% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Russell County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Russell County is 54, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 88 (Moderate).
Data Sources
Primary Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Quality System (AQS), Annual AQI by County dataset, 2020–2025 (aqs.epa.gov). For current conditions (not shown here — this page is historical annual data), see EPA AirNow (airnow.gov). See our methodology for how AQI, median, and coverage figures are computed.
Informational only, not professional advice. Data from EPA AQS. See our disclaimer.
Every figure on PlainAir is rendered directly from EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on EPA AQS air-quality monitoring data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.