Processed on 2024-03-04 12:44:10 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 Alabama spent in each AQI category during the the month of August.

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.

August in Alabama

August 2014 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 128 120 0 0 0 0 8
New 50 198 0 0 0 0 8

August 2015 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 236 67 0 1 0 0 16
New 143 160 0 1 0 0 16

August 2016 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 274 58 0 0 0 0 20
New 192 140 0 0 0 0 20

August 2017 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 235 110 0 0 0 0 39
New 152 193 0 0 0 0 39

August 2018 – 22 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 187 117 1 0 0 0 15
New 119 185 1 0 0 0 15

August 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 228 76 0 0 0 0 16
New 143 161 0 0 0 0 16

August 2020 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 226 89 0 0 0 0 37
New 132 183 0 0 0 0 37

August 2021 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 169 110 2 0 0 0 71
New 125 154 2 0 0 0 71

August 2022 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 323 21 0 0 0 0 40
New 246 98 0 0 0 0 40

August 2023 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 269 105 0 0 0 0 42
New 160 214 0 0 0 0 42