Processed on 2024-03-04 12:43:42 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 Alabama 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 Alabama

May 2014 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 140 76 0 0 0 0 8
New 87 129 0 0 0 0 8

May 2015 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 179 93 0 0 0 0 48
New 104 168 0 0 0 0 48

May 2016 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 218 118 0 0 0 0 16
New 148 188 0 0 0 0 16

May 2017 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 294 60 0 0 0 0 30
New 215 139 0 0 0 0 30

May 2018 – 22 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 176 116 0 0 0 0 28
New 118 174 0 0 0 0 28

May 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 203 102 0 0 0 0 15
New 118 187 0 0 0 0 15

May 2020 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 238 34 0 0 0 0 16
New 170 102 0 0 0 0 16

May 2021 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 255 59 0 0 0 0 38
New 156 158 0 0 0 0 38

May 2022 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 237 58 0 0 0 0 89
New 152 143 0 0 0 0 89

May 2023 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 276 117 0 0 0 0 23
New 173 220 0 0 0 0 23