Albany Air Quality in 2021
In 2021, Albany's air quality (Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY area) had a median daily AQI of 40 (Good) across 365 monitored days. 2 days (0.5%) reached Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse, 251 were Good, and the year's peak AQI was 118 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) set the daily AQI on 207 of those days. The cleanest month of 2021 was September (median AQI 33, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 49, 2 days above 100, peak 118).
- Good: 68.8%
- Moderate: 30.7%
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 0.5%
- Unhealthy or worse: 0.0%
Reduce Indoor Ozone in Albany
Today's main pollutant in Albany is ground-level ozone (AQI 21). 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.
Recommended: Levoit Core 300 — True HEPA + activated carbon · CADR ~141 CFM · rooms up to 219 sq ft
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How was Albany's air quality in 2021?
Good on a typical day: median AQI 40, with 2 days above AQI 100 out of 365 monitored — the 4th cleanest of 7 years on record for the area.
- ✓Peak AQI in 2021: 118 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
- ✓Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was the main pollutant on 207 days.
- ✓Cleanest month: September; worst: July.
Frequently asked questions
What was the average AQI in Albany in 2021?▾
EPA's Air Quality System puts Albany's (Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY) median daily AQI for 2021 at 40, which is Good. 2 days were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse and the year's highest AQI was 118.
Which month had the worst air quality in Albany in 2021?▾
The cleanest month of 2021 was September (median AQI 33, 0 days above 100) and the worst was July (median 49, 2 days above 100, peak 118).
Was 2021 a good or bad year for Albany's air?▾
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 4th cleanest by days above AQI 100. 2021's median of 40 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 41.
Albany month by month in 2021
Albany air quality month by month, 2021 (Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY, EPA AQS daily AQI)
| Month | Days monitored | Median AQI | Days above 100 | Peak AQI | Main pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 43 | 0 | 88 | PM2.5 |
| February | 28 | 47 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
| March | 31 | 40 | 0 | 69 | O3 |
| April | 30 | 41 | 0 | 67 | O3 |
| May | 31 | 38 | 0 | 93 | O3 |
| June | 30 | 45 | 0 | 84 | O3 |
| Julyworst | 31 | 49 | 2 | 118 | PM2.5 |
| August | 31 | 44 | 0 | 63 | PM2.5 |
| Septembercleanest | 30 | 33 | 0 | 58 | O3 |
| October | 31 | 36 | 0 | 53 | PM2.5 |
| November | 30 | 38 | 0 | 70 | PM2.5 |
| December | 31 | 47 | 0 | 69 | PM2.5 |
How 2021 compares
Among the 7 years EPA has published for the area (2019–2025), 2021 ranks 4th cleanest by days above AQI 100.
2021's median of 40 is in line with the area's typical annual median of 41.
Activity-specific thresholds: running, cycling, kids' sports.
Right now in Albany
The latest EPA AirNow observation puts Albany's AQI at 21 (O3). The figures above are multi-year annual statistics, not today's reading.
View current Albany air quality →Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) pre-generated Daily AQI by CBSA files — daily AQI by CBSA (Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY), 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.