The air in metro Atlanta is slightly cleaner than it was a few years ago, with pollution levels showing modest improvement. A new report by the United States Environemntal Protection Agency (EPA) revealed that the air quality in the metro has improved significantly in the past few years.

Fine particle pollution in metro Atlanta dropped by 2.3% from 2021 to 2023 compared to 2014 to 2016, according to an EPA analysis. Athens and Albany saw the most improvement in Georgia, while Valdosta experienced a 7% increase in pollution levels.

Despite these gains, pollution in the region remains a concern, largely driven by the interstate system and surrounding roadways. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) plays a major role in air quality but doesn’t capture the full picture. That means the air could be more polluted than what appears on weather apps.

Decades ago, metro Atlanta’s rapid population growth caused air quality to decline to crisis levels, prompting state officials to overhaul transportation plans and increase monitoring efforts. 

Nationally, 62% of metro areas have seen air quality improvements. Experts recommend checking local air quality index (AQI) reports and using common sense—if you smell smoke, it’s best to limit outdoor activity, even if the AQI looks good.