Meck County reports banner year for air quality

Jan. 7 – Mecklenburg County recorded zero unhealthy air quality days in 2025, the first time it has reached that milestone since the county started tracking data.

For the past 10 years, Mecklenburg County has met health-based air quality standards but still averaged about five unhealthy air quality days per year. Unhealthy air quality days are caused by elevated levels of two major pollutants: ground-level ozone and particle pollution.

County officials attributed the improvement to favorable weather conditions, pollution reduction efforts and limited impacts from wildfires and prescribed burns.

“It’s important to celebrate this milestone for the health of our community,” said County Commissioner Elaine Powell, chair of the board’s Environmental Stewardship Committee and representative of North Mecklenburg’s District 1. “Clean air is vital and something we should never take for granted. We are proud to continue to invest in a team of dedicated experts who take a proactive approach to public engagement, pollution reduction programs and data monitoring.”

Mecklenburg County is one of only three counties in the state with a dedicated air quality agency. The Air Quality team works to maintain healthy air through data collection, compliance with air pollution regulations, implementation of local pollution-reduction programs and community engagement.

In 2026, the Air Quality team will work to continue the trend by providing quality-assured data to the public and decision-makers and implementing local programs that limit air pollution.