Processed on 2024-03-04 12:46:29 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 Arizona 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 Arizona

October 2014 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 470 20 0 0 0 0 6
New 379 111 0 0 0 0 6

October 2015 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 400 6 0 0 0 0 28
New 358 48 0 0 0 0 28

October 2016 – 34 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 459 21 0 0 0 0 16
New 399 81 0 0 0 0 16

October 2017 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 444 74 2 0 0 0 38
New 337 181 2 0 0 0 38

October 2018 – 36 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 490 6 0 0 0 0 31
New 475 21 0 0 0 0 31

October 2019 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 456 35 0 0 0 0 5
New 398 93 0 0 0 0 5

October 2020 – 39 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 426 153 9 0 0 0 32
New 271 308 9 0 0 0 32

October 2021 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 554 68 2 0 0 0 27
New 440 182 2 0 0 0 27

October 2022 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 623 22 0 1 0 0 5
New 564 81 0 1 0 0 5

October 2023 – 33 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 560 82 0 0 0 0 9
New 468 174 0 0 0 0 9