Processed on 2024-03-04 12:41:48 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 May.

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.

May in Alaska

May 2014 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 69 19 2 0 0 0 6
New 60 28 2 0 0 0 6

May 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 80 5 0 0 0 0 11
New 73 12 0 0 0 0 11

May 2016 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 115 3 0 0 0 0 10
New 106 12 0 0 0 0 10

May 2017 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 124 0 0 0 0 0 4
New 123 1 0 0 0 0 4

May 2018 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 121 0 0 0 0 0 7
New 120 1 0 0 0 0 7

May 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 110 0 0 0 0 0 50
New 110 0 0 0 0 0 50

May 2020 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 152 0 0 0 0 0 8
New 150 2 0 0 0 0 8

May 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 149 0 0 0 0 0 11
New 149 0 0 0 0 0 11

May 2022 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 150 1 0 0 0 0 9
New 147 4 0 0 0 0 9

May 2023 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 165 1 0 0 0 0 26
New 165 1 0 0 0 0 26