Detroit Air Quality in 2022

In 2022, Detroit's air quality (Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI area) had a median daily AQI of 58 (Moderate) across 365 monitored days. 16 days (4.4%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 63 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 133 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 316 of those days. The cleanest month of 2022 was September (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 62, 5 days above 100, peak 133).

58
Median AQI
Moderate
16
Days above AQI 100
4.4% of 365 days
83
90th percentile AQI
worst 1 day in 10
133
Peak AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
PM2.5
Main pollutant
316 of 365 days
63
Good days
17.3% of days
  • Good: 17.3%
  • Moderate: 78.4%
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 4.4%
  • Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%

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QUICK ANSWER

How was Detroit's air quality in 2022?

Moderate on a typical day: median AQI 58, with 16 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 5th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.

  • Peak AQI in 2022: 133 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 316 days.
  • Cleanest month: September; worst: June.

Frequently asked questions

What was the average AQI in Detroit in 2022?

EPA's Air Quality System puts Detroit's (Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI) median daily AQI for 2022 at 58, which is Moderate. 16 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 133.

Which month had the worst air quality in Detroit in 2022?

The cleanest month of 2022 was September (median AQI 53, 0 days above 100) and the worst was June (median 62, 5 days above 100, peak 133).

Was 2022 a good or bad year for Detroit's air?

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2022's median of 58 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 58.

Detroit month by month in 2022

Detroit air quality month by month, 2022 (Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, EPA AQS daily AQI)

MonthDays monitoredMedian AQIDays above 100Peak AQIMain pollutant
January31631126PM2.5
February2866097PM2.5
March31613125PM2.5
April3054098PM2.5
May31551118PM2.5
Juneworst30625133PM2.5
July31611105PM2.5
August3157087PM2.5
Septembercleanest3053084PM2.5
October3160089PM2.5
November30574131PM2.5
December31581105PM2.5

How 2022 compares

Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2022 ranks 5th cleanest by days above AQI 100.

2022's median of 58 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 58.

Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.

Right now in Detroit

The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Detroit's AQI at 56 (PM2.5). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.

View current Detroit air quality →

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI), 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.