Median AQI
54
Moderate
Arkansas · County air quality · 2025
Pulaski County, Arkansas
Median AQI 54 (Moderate). 32.9% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.
- 54
- Median AQI
- 32.9%
- Good-air days
- 2
- Unhealthy days
- 2%
- Cleaner than US counties
The verdict
According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Pulaski County's air is moderate on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 54 with 32.9% of 274 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.
- 54
- median AQI · Moderate
- 32.9%
- days rated Good
- PM2.5
- main pollutant
- 2%
- cleaner than US counties
2 days reached Unhealthy or worse; the worst single reading hit AQI 239.
Data updated July 2026
- Good · 90 d · 32.8%
- Moderate · 178 d · 65.0%
- USG · 4 d · 1.5%
- Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
- Very Unhealthy · 1 d · 0.4%
How did Pulaski County's air break down in 2025?
Across 274 monitored days, 90 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 2 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 239 (Very Unhealthy).
EPA AQS →Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 274 days monitored. Median AQI: 54 (Moderate).
Insights: Pulaski County, Arkansas. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 54 across 274 measured days in 2025, earning a Moderate classification and a Poor health grade. Of those days, 90 (33%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 178 (65%) registered Moderate readings, and 4 (1%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 69, while the worst single-day peak hit 239 (Very Unhealthy). Residents averaged about 9.9 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.
The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (201 days), Ozone (71 days), NO2 (1 days), CO (1 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -96 and the median AQI moved +4 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. Residents and visitors experienced 2 unhealthy-or-worse days combined, periods when the EPA recommends sensitive groups limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Arkansas (51.6% good, AQI 49); Ashley (53.9% good, AQI 49); Clark (97.5% good, AQI 35); Crittenden (79.8% good, AQI 41); Garland (52.8% good, AQI 49); Jackson (65.9% good, AQI 44).
Air Quality Summary
Good Days
32.9%
90 of 274 monitored days
-42.1pp vs 75% target
Max AQI Recorded
239
Very Unhealthy
Health Grade
Poor
90th-pct AQI 69
Pulaski County, Good days share 32.9%
National avg
Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).
Pulaski County, Unhealthy-or-worse share 0.7%
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 274 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.
Good
90
33%
Moderate
178
65%
USG
4
1%
Unhealthy
1
0%
Very Unhealthy
1
0%
Hazardous
0
0%
Pollutant Breakdown
Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Pulaski County.
- PM2.5 · 201 days · 73.4%
- Ozone · 71 days · 25.9%
- NO₂ · 1 days · 0.4%
- CO · 1 days · 0.4%
Health Impact Assessment
Poor
Pulaski County's air quality is rated Poor based on 32.9% good air days. There were 2 unhealthy days in 2025 when outdoor activity should be limited.
Air quality reached unhealthy levels on 2 days in 2025 (1 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy). Sensitive groups, including people with asthma, COPD, cardiovascular conditions, children, and adults over 65, should review the daily breakdown below and follow local air-quality advisories on high-AQI days.
Sensitive group advisory
People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, pregnant women, and adults 65+ should follow EPA AQI alerts daily and limit outdoor exertion when AQI exceeds 100. Real-time conditions: airnow.gov.
The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 201 of 274 monitored days.
5-Year Air Quality Trend
Air quality is worsening in Pulaski County. Best year: 2020 (186 good days).
| Year | Good | Moderate | USG | Unhealthy | Median AQI | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 186 | 178 | 2 | 0 | 50 | 132 |
| 2021 | 114 | 249 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 112 |
| 2022 | 153 | 211 | 1 | 0 | 52 | 115 |
| 2023 | 122 | 238 | 4 | 1 | 55 | 174 |
| 2024 | 118 | 242 | 5 | 0 | 55 | 205 |
| 2025 | 90 | 178 | 4 | 1 | 54 | 239 |
How does Pulaski County compare?
How Pulaski County compares
Good-day share worse than US avg
Pulaski County 32.9%
Arkansas County, Arkansas 51.6%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Pulaski County 54
Arkansas County, Arkansas 49
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr worse than US avg
Pulaski County 2
Arkansas County, Arkansas 0
US average 0
Other Counties in Arkansas
Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Arkansas.
Counties with Similar Air Quality
Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Pulaski County.
Denver County, Colorado
AQI 54 · 44.2% good
Franklin County, Ohio
AQI 54 · 39.8% good
Fresno County, California
AQI 54 · 40.1% good
Hamilton County, Ohio
AQI 54 · 32.1% good
Hidalgo County, Texas
AQI 54 · 36.2% good
Inyo County, California
AQI 54 · 40.7% good
What Pulaski County's air means for you
On most days the air here is fine, but PM2.5 drives 2 unhealthy-or-worse days a year that sensitive groups should plan around.
- Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 54 means for exposure. Health guidance
- See how Pulaski County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
- Compare Pulaski County with its Arkansas neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Arkansas
Based on 274 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 Pulaski County, Arkansas? ▼
Pulaski County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 54, rated "Moderate." 32.9% of monitored days (90 out of 274) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Pulaski County? ▼
The primary pollutant in Pulaski County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 201 days (73% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Pulaski County have? ▼
In 2025, Pulaski County recorded 2 unhealthy air days (1 Unhealthy, 1 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 239.
Is the air quality in Pulaski County getting better or worse? ▼
Air quality in Pulaski County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2020 with 186 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 90 good days.
What does AQI 54 mean for health? ▼
Pulaski County's median AQI of 54 falls in the "Moderate" category. See the <a href="/guides/understanding-aqi" class="underline">AQI category guide</a> for what each range means for health.
How does Pulaski County compare to other counties in Arkansas? ▼
Pulaski County has 32.9% good air days. Nearby counties in Arkansas: Arkansas (51.6% good), Ashley (53.9% good), Clark (97.5% good), Crittenden (79.8% good), Garland (52.8% good), Jackson (65.9% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Pulaski County? ▼
The 90th percentile AQI for Pulaski County is 69, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 239 (Very Unhealthy).
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.