Knox County Tennessee


The mission of Air Quality Management is to achieve and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in Knox County for all criteria air pollutants designed to protect health and welfare, as set by local, state and federal law. This is accomplished through the following activities:

  • monitoring of the ambient air to determine air quality levels;
  • permitting of regulated stationary sources;
  • conducting compliance evaluations and complaint investigations;
  • issuing open burning permits; and
  • providing technical and educational services.




Air Quality Index (AQI)

Daily AQI Color Levels of Concern Values of Index Description of Air Quality
Green Good 0 to 50 Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk
Yellow Moderate 51 to 100 Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Orange Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 101 to 150 Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
Red Unhealthy 151 to 200 Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Maroon Very Unhealthy 201 to 300 Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects
Purple Hazardous 301 to 500 Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

For more information on the Air Quality Index, please click here.