Processed on 2024-03-04 12:44:50 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 December.

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.

December in Alabama

December 2014 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 197 51 0 0 0 0 0
New 128 120 0 0 0 0 0

December 2015 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 225 63 0 0 0 0 22
New 166 122 0 0 0 0 22

December 2016 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 277 57 0 0 0 0 38
New 177 157 0 0 0 0 38

December 2017 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 256 85 0 0 0 0 31
New 186 155 0 0 0 0 31

December 2018 – 22 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 99 22 0 0 0 0 3
New 79 42 0 0 0 0 3

December 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 226 53 1 0 0 0 30
New 176 103 1 0 0 0 30

December 2020 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 237 104 0 0 0 0 0
New 162 179 0 0 0 0 0

December 2021 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 239 51 0 0 0 0 20
New 176 114 0 0 0 0 20

December 2022 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 353 22 0 0 0 0 59
New 287 88 0 0 0 0 59

December 2023 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 342 40 0 0 0 0 8
New 296 86 0 0 0 0 8