Texas · County air quality · 2025

Cameron County, Texas

Median AQI 55 (Moderate). 31.7% of monitored days rated Good, direct from EPA Air Quality System stations.

55
Median AQI
31.7%
Good-air days
0
Unhealthy days
2%
Cleaner than US counties

The verdict

According to EPA Air Quality System monitoring data, Cameron County's air is moderate on balance, among the most polluted counties nationally, a median AQI of 55 with 31.7% of 243 monitored days in the Good band, driven mainly by PM2.5.

55
median AQI · Moderate
31.7%
days rated Good
PM2.5
main pollutant
2%
cleaner than US counties

Not one day crossed into the Unhealthy tier; the worst single reading was AQI 139.

Data updated July 2026

Cameron County AQI category distribution Stacked-segment bar showing the share of monitored days that fell in each EPA AQI category, Good, Moderate, USG, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, Hazardous, with median AQI marker. AQI category distribution 243 monitored days G M Median AQI 55 0 50 100 150 200 300 500 Cameron County
  • Good · 77 d · 31.7%
  • Moderate · 161 d · 66.3%
  • USG · 5 d · 2.1%

How did Cameron County's air break down in 2025?

Across 243 monitored days, 77 fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50) and 0 reached Unhealthy or worse. The worst single day peaked at AQI 139 (USG).

EPA AQS →

Air quality data from EPA Air Quality System (2025). 243 days monitored. Median AQI: 55 (Moderate).

Insights: Cameron County, Texas. EPA monitors recorded a median Air Quality Index of 55 across 243 measured days in 2025, earning a Moderate classification and a Poor health grade. Of those days, 77 (32%) fell in the Good band (AQI 0–50), 161 (66%) registered Moderate readings, and 5 (2%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The 90th-percentile AQI settled at 76, while the worst single-day peak hit 139 (USG). Residents averaged about 9.5 clean-air days per 30-day window during the monitoring year.

The full pollutant mix ranks as PM2.5 (208 days), Ozone (35 days). Across the 2020–2025 trend window, good days shifted by -81 and the median AQI moved +3 points, placing the multi-year trajectory at worsening. The worst single reading over the 2020–2025 window was AQI 139, usg but never Unhealthy. Nearby counties show comparable readings: Atascosa (58.0% good, AQI 45); Bell (61.3% good, AQI 47); Bexar (39.8% good, AQI 53); Bowie (57.3% good, AQI 47); Brazoria (84.8% good, AQI 33); Brazos (63.4% good, AQI 43).

Air Quality Summary

Median AQI

55

Moderate

Good Days

31.7%

77 of 243 monitored days

-43.3pp vs 75% target

Max AQI Recorded

139

USG

Health Grade

Poor

90th-pct AQI 76

Cameron County, Good days share 31.7%
National avg

Share of monitored days at AQI 0-50 (Good band).

Cameron 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 243 monitored days across EPA AQI categories.

Good

77

32%

Moderate

161

66%

USG

5

2%

Unhealthy

0

0%

Very Unhealthy

0

0%

Hazardous

0

0%

Pollutant Breakdown

Days where each pollutant was the primary driver of AQI readings in Cameron County.

Cameron County, Texas criteria pollutant distribution Stratified-band visualization showing the share of monitored days each criteria pollutant (PM2.5, PM10, O3, NO2, CO) was the primary AQI driver. PM2.5 · 85.6% Ozone · 14.4% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Cameron County, Texas · 243 monitored days Criteria pollutant column
  • PM2.5 · 208 days · 85.6%
  • Ozone · 35 days · 14.4%
Fine Particles (PM2.5) 208 days (86%)

How PM2.5 affects health →

Ozone (O3) 35 days (14%)

How Ozone affects health →

Health Impact Assessment

Poor

Cameron County's air quality is rated Poor based on 31.7% good air days. No unhealthy air days were recorded in 2025.

Air quality was acceptable on 31.7% of monitored days in 2025, with a median AQI of 55. Unusually sensitive people can check real-time conditions at AirNow.gov during high-pollution events.

The dominant pollutant is PM2.5, driving AQI on 208 of 243 monitored days.

5-Year Air Quality Trend

Air quality is worsening in Cameron County. Best year: 2022 (191 good days).

Year Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Median AQI
2020 158 199 6 3 52
2021 162 203 0 0 52
2022 191 171 3 0 48
2023 161 198 6 0 54
2024 99 206 48 13 61
2025 77 161 5 0 55

How does Cameron County compare?

How Cameron County compares

Good-day share worse than US avg
Cameron County 31.7%
Atascosa County, Texas 58.0%
US average 76.5%
Median AQI worse than US avg
Cameron County 55
Atascosa County, Texas 45
US average 38
Unhealthy days / yr about average
Cameron County 0
Atascosa County, Texas 0
US average 0

Other Counties in Texas

Air quality comparison for nearby counties in Texas.

Counties with Similar Air Quality

Counties across the US with a similar median AQI to Cameron County.

What Cameron County's air means for you

The air here stays in the breathable range year-round, with PM2.5 the main thing to watch.

  • Sensitive groups (asthma, heart conditions, children, older adults) should check the AQI on high-PM2.5 days, the guide explains what a median of 55 means for exposure. Health guidance
  • See how Cameron County ranks against every monitored U.S. county on Good-day share. County rankings
  • Compare Cameron County with its Texas neighbours before drawing a conclusion about the region. All of Texas

Based on 243 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 Cameron County, Texas?
Cameron County has a median Air Quality Index (AQI) of 55, rated "Moderate." 31.7% of monitored days (77 out of 243) had good air quality in 2025.
What is the main pollutant in Cameron County?
The primary pollutant in Cameron County is Fine Particles (PM2.5), which was the main AQI driver on 208 days (86% of monitored days). Penetrates deep into lungs and bloodstream. Linked to heart disease and premature death.
How many unhealthy air days does Cameron County have?
In 2025, Cameron County recorded 0 unhealthy air days (0 Unhealthy, 0 Very Unhealthy, 0 Hazardous). The maximum AQI reached 139.
Is the air quality in Cameron County getting better or worse?
Air quality in Cameron County is worsening based on 5-year trends (2020-2025). Best year: 2022 with 191 good days. Worst year: 2025 with 77 good days.
What does AQI 55 mean for health?
Cameron County's median AQI of 55 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 Cameron County compare to other counties in Texas?
Cameron County has 31.7% good air days. Nearby counties in Texas: Atascosa (58.0% good), Bell (61.3% good), Bexar (39.8% good), Bowie (57.3% good), Brazoria (84.8% good), Brazos (63.4% good).
What is the 90th percentile AQI in Cameron County?
The 90th percentile AQI for Cameron County is 76, meaning 90% of monitored days had an AQI at or below this level. The maximum AQI recorded was 139 (USG).

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.