The quality of the air we breathe largely depends on the amount of pollution within it, both from natural and human sources. Air quality is also linked to overall health. Of the 22 cities in Oklahoma that are tracked by the Environmental Projection Agency (EPA) air-quality monitors, as of 2026, only two are improving, while 17 cities in Oklahoma have worsening air quality. The state’s average for the last five-years was 42, while the national average is 41.
However, the news isn’t all bad. The Air Quality Index (AQI) rates anything below 50 as healthy, and the unhealthiest AQI numbers can rise to 300 or higher. Still, there’s room for improvement.
There are many kinds of pollutants, all of which damage the lungs and heart. Some enter the bloodstream and cause ill effects on various organs. The smaller particular pollutants are caused by vehicle exhaust, industrial emission, residential wood burning and wildfires, while the larger particular pollutants come from natural sources like dust storms and volcanic eruptions, alongside human activities such as construction, unpaved roads and industrial processes.
Ground-level ozone is another concern for air quality and is formed by chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight. The ozone causes respiratory issues, while worsening already existing lung diseases and harming plant life. This ozone is created by emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors and chemical solvents.
Oklahoma is one of seven states that have shown worsening conditions in ozone quality. Some cities in the state – though ranked as being in the top 25 worst when it comes to ozone pollution including Tulsa, Bartlesville and Muskogee – averaged only 11.3 bad ozone days in 2026 so far.
There are other pollutants in air such as carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen and sulfur dioxide that pose a concern, as well.
Unfortunately, air pollution can blow into any part of Oklahoma from neighboring cities and states. However, Oklahoma officials are working to keep our air as clean as possible.
“Protecting air quality impacts every community we serve and is essential to the Department of Environmental Quality’s mission,” says Kendal Stegmann, the DEQ Air Quality Division director. “Through air monitoring, issuance of air permits, collecting data about emissions released from all Oklahoma sources, and conducting inspections, we help protect both citizens and the state’s natural resources.”
The state government offers ten simple steps to help improve air quality: Take mass transit, share a ride or carpool; utilize trip-chaining (combining multiple errands or stops into a single, connected journey); ride a bike, walk or skate instead using a vehicle; get regular vehicle maintenance; purchase gas when it’s cool out, like mornings or evenings; don’t top off the gas tank; telecommute; understand your city’s traffic patterns to avoid backups; and avoid the drive-through by picking up food inside a restaurant.
Oklahoma’s DEQ makes daily AQI forecasts for multiple cities in Oklahoma, and these forecasts are based on weather conditions and pollutant data from Air Quality Division monitors.
The DEQ issues an alert when the air quality for the next day is forecasted to be unhealthy for sensitive groups and notifies local government councils who use their alert programs to spread the word to those in affected areas. DEQ also announces all alerts through its Air Quality Health Advisory email/text notifications.
With growing awareness, daily monitoring and simple actions from Oklahomans across the state, cleaner and healthier air remains an achievable goal for future generations.
