Seattle's air quality is getting worse
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Seattle's air quality is deteriorating, with fine particle pollution rising more than 17% over the last decade, according to year-over-year EPA data.
Why it matters: A growing body of research shows that polluted air is connected to poor reproductive outcomes, increased dementia risk, more asthma attacks and other respiratory health effects.
By the numbers: The average percentage of fine particle pollution in the Seattle metro area, which includes Bellevue and Tacoma, increased from 6.28 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014-16 to 7.4 micrograms in 2021-23, per the EPA.
Zoom in: Seattle's air pollution is 10% higher than in similar-size U.S. cities due to industry and transportation corridors, with fossil fuels being the primary contributor, IQAir's CEO Glory Dolphin Hammes told KIRO Newsradio last year.
- Wildfire smoke is a concern, but fossil fuel emissions from buildings and vehicles are the biggest drivers of air pollution in Seattle, per city data.
- The problem is expected to get worse in coming decades, Hammes said.
The big picture: Tracking fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a helpful indicator of air pollution and a major factor in air quality index scores, but it doesn't account for all variables. So air pollution can be worse than it appears on your weather app.
Be safe: Air quality experts recommend checking your local AQI and trusting your nose. If you smell smoke — even if the AQI is "green" — limit your time outside.