Processed on 2024-03-04 12:41:10 PST.

Disclaimer: Data presented here come from a variety of sources and do not represent official EPA measurements. Please visit AirNow for official measurements.

Cumulative exposure to smoke is an important public health metric. This report summarizes the cumulative number of days air quality monitors in Alaska spent in each AQI category during the the month of January.

The tables below include only permanent monitors measuring PM2.5 and show cumulative exposure under existing NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) and under the 2024 revised standards for PM2.5.

In the tables and plots below, ‘Old’ designates cumulative days calculated using the 2023 PM2.5 NAAQS while ‘New’ is calculated using the 2024 revised PM2.5 NAAQS. The impact of the NAAQS revision is quite clear.

January in Alaska

January 2014 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 34 37 12 10 0 0 0
New 28 43 12 10 0 0 0

January 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 14 38 16 14 1 0 10
New 8 44 16 13 2 0 10

January 2016 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 58 47 7 6 0 0 6
New 47 58 7 6 0 0 6

January 2017 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 42 45 19 12 0 0 6
New 37 50 19 12 0 0 6

January 2018 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 54 51 7 5 0 0 7
New 42 62 8 5 0 0 7

January 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 82 54 10 8 0 0 1
New 69 67 10 8 0 0 1

January 2020 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 52 74 13 10 0 0 6
New 32 93 13 11 0 0 6

January 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 58 72 16 9 0 0 0
New 48 82 16 9 0 0 0

January 2022 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 79 54 9 4 0 0 9
New 64 69 8 5 0 0 9

January 2023 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 124 49 9 3 0 0 1
New 100 72 10 3 0 0 1