Processed on 2024-03-04 12:42:35 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 October.

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.

October in Alaska

October 2014 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 63 28 2 0 0 0 3
New 45 46 2 0 0 0 3

October 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 79 14 0 0 0 0 3
New 72 21 0 0 0 0 3

October 2016 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 69 45 5 2 0 0 7
New 42 72 5 2 0 0 7

October 2017 – 4 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 112 8 0 0 0 0 8
New 105 15 0 0 0 0 8

October 2018 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 110 8 0 0 0 0 10
New 97 21 0 0 0 0 10

October 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 137 7 0 0 0 0 16
New 130 14 0 0 0 0 16

October 2020 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 122 14 2 0 0 0 22
New 108 28 2 0 0 0 22

October 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 73 4 0 0 0 0 83
New 68 9 0 0 0 0 83

October 2022 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 168 9 0 0 0 0 15
New 158 19 0 0 0 0 15

October 2023 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 155 19 0 0 0 0 18
New 136 38 0 0 0 0 18