South Coast AQMD Highlights Air Quality Progress Despite Wildfires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2026 MEDIA CONTACT:

Nahal Mogharabi: (909) 396-3773, Cell: (909) 837-2431 Rainbow Yeung: (909) 396-3373, Cell: (909) 967-2477 press@aqmd.gov South Coast AQMD Highlights Air Quality Progress Despite Wildfires and Other

Challenges

The American Lung Association has released its 27th annual "State of the Air" report, providing an assessment of ozone (smog) levels and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels across counties nationwide. While the Los Angeles region continues to rank among the worst in the nation for ozone, these rankings do not fully reflect the significant progress made to improve air quality over the past several decades. Thanks to the efforts of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD), the region has seen a long-term decline in unhealthy ozone days and harmful pollution levels. Notably, 2025 recorded some of the lowest ozone levels on record, demonstrating continued improvement in air quality. However, a few of the high pollution days captured in this year's report were driven by large-scale wildfires--events that are increasing in frequency and intensity. Recent air quality trends highlight both meaningful progress and the growing influence of wildfire smoke. While PM2.5 levels were elevated at times due to wildfire smoke, winter weather conditions, and residential wood burning, the South Coast Air Basin continues to make long-term progress in reducing particulate pollution. The region meets the federal PM10 standard and has recently met the 24-hour PM2.5 standard in 2023 and 2024, though it does not yet meet the annual PM2.5 standards. Continued implementation of South Coast AQMD's 2022 Air Quality Management Plan for ozone, along with the agency's 2024 plan to address PM2.5, remains key to building on these gains. South Coast AQMD continues to reduce emissions through a wide range of actions, including adopting practical, balanced rules and advancing innovative programs and partnerships. Efforts such as Rule 2305 - Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) Program are already achieving real, quantifiable reductions, while the Cooperative Agreement with the

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Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles is accelerating the transition to zero-emission

infrastructure at one of the nation's busiest goods movement hubs. At the same time,

programs such as INVEST CLEAN* and ELECTRIC are helping deploy cleaner technologies-- including zero-emission equipment and infrastructure--in communities most impacted by air pollution. Despite this progress, the majority of smog-forming emissions in the region originate from mobile sources--including heavy-duty trucks, ships, trains, and aircraft--which are largely

regulated at the federal level. As one of the nation's largest goods movement hubs, Southern

California faces unique air quality challenges, and communities near major transportation corridors continue to experience disproportionate impacts. Continued federal action and investment are critical to achieving further emission reductions. Progress toward clean air depends on strong partnerships at every level. South Coast AQMD will continue working with communities, businesses, and state and federal agencies to advance solutions that protect public health for all, while delivering critical benefits to sensitive populations, including children, by reducing exposure to harmful emissions and supporting clean air initiatives in communities where families live, learn, and play. South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram. # # #

*This project has been funded wholly or in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement #5E97T15501 to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does U.S. Environmental Protection Agency endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document, as well as any images, video, text, or other content created by generative artificial intelligence tools, nor does any such content necessarily reflect the views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.