Living in San Antonio, locals are used to hazy days with dust and dirt floating in the air, especially when Saharan dust travels across the Atlantic Ocean into South Texas. Due to frequent smog and other factors, San Antonio has been ranked the seventh-most polluted major city in the United States.
IQAir, a Swiss-based technology company that specializes in air quality monitoring and purification, released its 8th annual World Air Quality Report on March 24. The report found that San Antonio recorded an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 8.2 micrograms per cubic meter in 2025, a level that remains nearly twice the World Health Organization’s guideline.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate pollution that is small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, and long-term exposure has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular health issues, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Texas cities with polluted air
Despite its high ranking, San Antonio’s air quality is gradually improving, according to the report. The 2025 measurement marks the third consecutive year the city has recorded a decrease in particle pollution concentrations, a spokesperson for IQAir told MySA…