Shanghai’s Air Quality Improves Slightly in July, But Overall Trend Remains Upward

Shanghai’s air quality in July showed a slight improvement compared to the previous year, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a good rate of 77.4%. However, the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) increased by 5.6% year-on-year, reaching 19 micrograms per cubic meter. Despite this, the city saw a decrease in the average concentration of inhalable particulate matter (PM10) by 7.6% compared to the previous year, reaching 61 micrograms per cubic meter. For the first seven months of 2024, the overall AQI good rate stands at 85.9%, down by 0.4% year-on-year. The average concentration of PM2.5 for this period was 32 micrograms per cubic meter, representing a 14.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The data highlights the city’s continuous efforts to improve air quality, with some success in reducing PM10 levels. However, the rising PM2.5 concentration poses a challenge for achieving sustained improvement.