Baldwin County ranked among Alabama's top-performing counties in the American Lung Association's 2025 "State of the Air" report, released April 23.

The county earned A grades for both ozone and short-term particle pollution and received a passing mark for annual particle pollution — placing it at the forefront of air quality performance statewide.

Most of Alabama scored well overall, with many counties achieving passing grades for major pollutants. However, Baldwin County distinguished itself with a clean record: zero days with unhealthy levels of ozone or 24-hour particle pollution and annual averages well below the national particle pollution threshold.

The annual report grades counties based on their levels of ozone and particle pollution using data from the Environmental Protection Agency. Baldwin County received a weighted average of 0.0 in both ozone and short-term particle categories, translating to straight A's.

Ozone pollution, often referred to as smog, is described in the report as "one of the most widespread pollutants in the United States" and "a powerful lung irritant." The association notes that when inhaled, ozone "reacts with the delicate lining of the airways, causing inflammation and other damage that can impact multiple body systems."

Baldwin County has consistently passed the ozone pollution section since the 2012–2014 recording period.
The report also warns that particle pollution is "a deadly and growing threat to public health." While many counties in Alabama reported improvements, Baldwin County reported zero orange, red, purple or maroon days for 24-hour particle levels, earning another perfect score.

For year-round particle pollution, the county's design value was 7.4 micrograms per cubic meter, well under the federal limit of 9.0 μg/m³. According to the report's grading criteria, any county at or below the standard receives a "Pass," while counties at or above 9.1 μg/m³ are marked "Fail."

Grades are calculated using a weighted system: orange days are scored as 1 point, red days as 1.5, purple days as 2 and maroon days as 2.5. These are averaged to determine a final letter grade. Annual particle pollution grades are based strictly on the EPA's design value threshold.

While Baldwin County's air quality is strong, the report highlights at-risk populations throughout the region. Of the county's 253,507 residents, 53,110 are children under 18, 55,923 are adults 65 and older, and 2,512 pregnancies were recorded. The report also notes that 4,547 children have asthma, 17,840 adults have asthma, 19,436 live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 145 have lung cancer and 27,152 have cardiovascular disease.

The full "State of the Air" report, along with detailed data for every Alabama county, is available at www.lung.org.