Increasing
What does this measure?
The percentage of days for which air quality was monitored and found to be good, indicating healthy air both for sensitive groups, such as people with asthma, and for the population as a whole. The Air Quality Index (AQI) summarizes levels of ground-level ozone, particulate matter (soot and other particles), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide into one measure.
Why is this important?
Exposure to these pollutants can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Continued exposure can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.
How is Westchester County performing?
In 2020, 90% of days with air quality measurements in Westchester County were good air days, similar to the rate in 2019, but an 11-point increase from 2000. The low was 66% good air days in 2007. Compared to similar counties, Westchester had the lowest percentage of good air days in 2020; Putnam had the highest at 98%, followed by Nassau at 95% and Rockland at 93%.
Notes about the data
The availability of data depends on the location of EPA monitoring stations.
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester County | 81% | 71% | 75% | 81% | 85% | 75% | 79% | 66% | 71% | 77% | 74% | 73% | 80% | 82% | 82% | 79% | 82% | 90% | 87% | 90% | 90% |
| Nassau County | 76% | 74% | 78% | 83% | 84% | 83% | 86% | 63% | 63% | 72% | 72% | 67% | 77% | 80% | 85% | 85% | 92% | 94% | 93% | 95% | 95% |
| Putnam County | 89% | 81% | 78% | 85% | 87% | 84% | 89% | 85% | 88% | 95% | 86% | 94% | 93% | 96% | 95% | 93% | 89% | 94% | 94% | 96% | 98% |
| Rockland County | 86% | 76% | 79% | 81% | 81% | 85% | 80% | 83% | 93% | 88% | 92% | 93% |
Notes: Data were not available for the state or for some counties because they do not have air quality monitoring stations.
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westchester County | 287 | 257 | 261 | 291 | 298 | 272 | 274 | 239 | 260 | 280 | 271 | 263 | 292 | 300 | 299 | 290 | 300 | 327 | 316 | 330 | 327 |
| Nassau County | 276 | 265 | 284 | 295 | 303 | 295 | 312 | 230 | 232 | 263 | 262 | 244 | 276 | 291 | 310 | 310 | 337 | 342 | 340 | 344 | 347 |
| Putnam County | 326 | 294 | 279 | 310 | 316 | 304 | 317 | 311 | 322 | 345 | 315 | 330 | 334 | 351 | 345 | 338 | 322 | 339 | 332 | 348 | 350 |
| Rockland County | 178 | 277 | 270 | 290 | 297 | 311 | 293 | 303 | 340 | 320 | 335 | 340 |
Notes: Data were not available for the state or for some counties because they do not have air quality monitoring stations.
| INDICATORS | TREND | WESTCHESTER |
|---|---|
| Contributions as a Percentage of Income |
0
Maintaining
|
| Voter Registration Rate |
1
Increasing
|
| Voter Participation Rate |
1
Increasing
|
| Serious Crimes |
-1
Decreasing
|
| Reported Victims of Domestic Violence |
-1
Decreasing
|
| Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity | 10 Not Applicable* |
| Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity | 10 Not Applicable* |
| Households without Vehicles |
-1
Decreasing
|
| Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity |
-1
Decreasing
|
| Air Quality |
1
Increasing
|
| Population Density |
0
Maintaining
|
| Water Quality of the Long Island Sound |
1
Increasing
|
| Open Space in Westchester County |
1
Increasing
|
