Worst air pollution El Alto, today and tomorrow

Today (16 July): Air quality in El Alto is fair. AQI and PM2.5 are fair; PM10, NO2, O3, SO2, CO, HCHO, and PM1 are good. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 27.8/100).
Tomorrow (17 July 2026): Air quality in El Alto is fair. All pollutants stay as today. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (PM2.5: 27.7/100). Airmine updates local air quality forecasts four times daily.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app

Developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team

Use our Strava plugin to check your own exposure.

El Alto's air quality reflects the extreme Bolivian Altiplano plateau adjacent to La Paz at 4,150 metres — one of the world's highest major cities — with vehicle traffic on surrounding roads and the vehicle density, informal industrial, and extraordinary altitude corridor creating unique high-altitude PM2.5 challenges. The extreme altitude paradoxically aids wind dispersal but worsens ozone formation, while the cold Altiplano winds and thin air create distinctive air quality dynamics and El Alto maintains among the world's most extraordinarily altitude-defined major urban environments.

Today - 16 July | Pollution peaks at 09:00

AQI:

Fair

27.8/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

27.8/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

13.1/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0.2/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

18.5/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

2.7/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.5/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

3.7/100

Levels show the poorest local air quality during the day

Tomorrow - 17 July | Pollution peaks at 13:00

AQI:

Fair

27.7/100

PM2.5 (fine particles):

Fair

27.7/100

PM10 (coarse particles):

Good

12.7/100

NO2 (nitrogen dioxide):

Good

0.1/100

O3 (ozone):

Good

18.8/100

SO2 (sulfur dioxide):

Good

3.1/100

CO (carbon monoxide):

Good

0.0/100

HCHO (formaldehyde):

Good

0.4/100

PM1 (ultrafine particles):

Good

9.8/100

Frequently Asked Questions

Is air quality bad in El Alto right now?

On 16 July 2026, overall air quality in El Alto is fair. AQI is the main air quality indicator at 27.8/100. Pollution peaks around 9:00 AM (PM2.5: 27.8/100).

Will air quality be worse tomorrow in El Alto?

On 17 July 2026, air quality conditions in El Alto will be similar to today, with AQI forecast at fair at 27.7/100. Pollution peaks around 1:00 PM (PM2.5: 27.7/100).

When is air pollution at its worst in El Alto?

El Alto usually sees its poorest air quality when vehicle traffic coincides with periods when dry spells bring strong winds. Strong seasonal winds can lift dust from the surrounding dry terrain and push particulate levels sharply higher. Photochemical reactions in the heat push ozone levels higher.

Are air quality levels in El Alto based on measurements or forecasts?

It is forecasts derived by downscaling forecasts provided by EU’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) by taking into account local conditions such as traffic patterns. CAMS bases its forecast on satellite measurements of particles and chemical compounds in the atmosphere. Airmine’s services were developed with support from the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Business Applications and Space Solutions (BASS) team.

Check air quality in other popular cities:

Data provided by Airmine — Last update: 16 July 2026 at 10:33 CEST (Data is updated four times daily.)

This forecast is produced independently using Airmine's own atmospheric data and models.

Unless explicitly made clear, the content on this site has not been paid for by external organisations and is Airmine's sole responsibility.

For long term forecasts and maps, see the Airmine app