LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (APCD) released its annual report Wednesday, providing an update on local air quality. The update compares Louisville's status to national air quality standards, Air Quality Index (AQI) values, local emissions data, odors and more. 

“The work to protect Louisville’s air makes our city healthier, improves our quality of life, supports our economy and so much more,” said Rachael Hamilton, director of the Louisville Metro APCD. “Our staff continue to find innovative ways to build on our area’s progress and collaborate with a community that is fiercely committed to improving our air quality and our environment.”

The report said local emissions of toxic air pollution from industrial sources are down and have declined more than 85% since the Strategic Toxic Air Reduction program was passed in 2005. 

Using an updated AQI, according to the report, Louisville saw 169 “Good” air quality days, 183 “Moderate” days, 12 days that were “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (USG) and one "Unhealthy" day in 2024. USG days were down in 2024 compared to 2023, and there were more "Good" days than any year in which all current pollutants were measured, the report added.   

Additional highlights include a more than 25% reduction in resident reports of odors compared to 2023 while 27 local businesses and organizations signed up as Air Quality Action Partners, making commitments to provide air quality reports to more than 7,000 local employees. The district and its partners also began work on the Rubbertown Air Toxics & Health Assessment project, with the project's air monitoring study set to begin in the spring.

The full report is available on the city's website.

The APCD implements federal, state and local air pollution laws and regulations in Louisville. Its services include monitoring air quality through its air monitoring network, providing live air quality conditions and forecasts and investigating and addressing reports of related issues.