Processed on 2024-03-04 12:44:30 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 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 Alabama

October 2014 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 183 61 0 0 0 0 12
New 140 104 0 0 0 0 12

October 2015 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 229 55 0 0 0 0 164
New 149 135 0 0 0 0 164

October 2016 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 227 84 1 0 0 0 40
New 128 183 1 0 0 0 40

October 2017 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 315 46 0 0 0 0 23
New 238 123 0 0 0 0 23

October 2018 – 22 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 218 81 0 0 0 0 21
New 163 136 0 0 0 0 21

October 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 247 55 0 0 0 0 18
New 197 105 0 0 0 0 18

October 2020 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 241 91 0 0 0 0 20
New 148 184 0 0 0 0 20

October 2021 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 262 70 0 0 0 0 20
New 194 138 0 0 0 0 20

October 2022 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 262 91 0 0 0 0 31
New 186 167 0 0 0 0 31

October 2023 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 329 61 1 0 0 0 25
New 280 110 1 0 0 0 25