Bell, Kentucky Air Quality
Bell County, Kentucky (KY)
↑ Worseningover 10 years
10-Year AQI Trend
The solid line shows the median AQI each year. The dashed line shows the 90th percentile (worst 10% of days). Air quality in this area has been declining over the past decade.
Air Quality Day Breakdown
Number of days per year in each EPA AQI category. Green = Good (AQI 0-50), Yellow = Moderate (51-100), Orange = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Red = Unhealthy or worse (151+).
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Median AQI | 90th Pct | Max AQI | Good Days | Moderate | Unhealthy+ | Pollutant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 49 | 67 | 131 | 185 | 177 | 3 | PM2.5 |
| 2022 | 48 | 64 | 91 | 197 | 168 | 0 | PM2.5 |
| 2021 | 52 | 68 | 112 | 164 | 198 | 2 | PM2.5 |
| 2020 | 34 | 48 | 74 | 242 | 21 | 0 | Ozone |
| 2019 | 40 | 50 | 77 | 238 | 25 | 0 | Ozone |
| 2018 | 39 | 52 | 84 | 224 | 32 | 0 | Ozone |
| 2017 | 40 | 52 | 80 | 231 | 32 | 0 | Ozone |
| 2016 | 39 | 52 | 165 | 230 | 29 | 2 | Ozone |
| 2015 | 39 | 54 | 77 | 227 | 34 | 0 | Ozone |
| 2014 | 42 | 59 | 93 | 208 | 58 | 0 | Ozone |
What This Means for Bell County Residents
Bell, Kentucky has received an Air Quality Grade of C (56/100) based on a decade of EPA monitoring data. The current median AQI of 49 falls in the "Good" range.
Concerning trends show air quality has been declining, with the median AQI rising by 7 points over the monitoring period. This could be driven by increased development, wildfire smoke, or industrial activity.
The primary pollutant affecting this area is Ground-Level Ozone. Over the past 5 years, this area has averaged 1 unhealthy air quality days per year — days when sensitive groups (children, elderly, those with respiratory conditions) should limit outdoor activity.