Objective In order to understand the regularity of air pollution in Jilin province, the distribution of air pollutants in 2014-2016 was analyzed to provide scientific basis for environmental protection and management.

Methods The monitoring data on daily main air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂) in the environment were collected for three consecutive years (2014-2016) in city A and city B of Jilin province. The distribution of air pollutants with time and space were described and compared to discuss the regularity of air pollution.

Results The annual average concentration of air pollutants in city A was higher than that in city B. All kinds of air pollutants in city A were decreasing year by year, and the pollutants in city B were obviously decresing except for PM_2.5. The variation of air pollutants was obvious with time:relatively higher in spring and winter and relatively lower in summer and autumn. Except for SO₂, the rate of exceeding the standard limit for other three pollutants of city A are higher than that of city B. The rates of unqualified pollutants were decreasing year by year, but the excessive particulate matter in winter was serious.

Conclusions The situation of air pollution in city A and city B of Jilin province was improving year by year, but the pollution was still heavy in winter, and the rate of unqualification was high. There was a regular distribution of air pollutants over time, the highest in winter, higher in winter and spring, and lower in summer and autumn. Air pollution in city A was heavier than that in city B. Air pollution might be influenced by many factors, and showed regional characteristics.