Processed on 2024-03-04 12:56:30 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 Delaware 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 Delaware

August 2014 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 78 13 0 0 0 0 5
New 64 27 0 0 0 0 5

August 2015 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 80 5 0 0 0 0 11
New 59 26 0 0 0 0 11

August 2016 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 88 2 0 0 0 0 6
New 71 19 0 0 0 0 6

August 2017 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 92 1 0 0 0 0 3
New 66 27 0 0 0 0 3

August 2018 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 92 32 0 0 0 0 4
New 68 56 0 0 0 0 4

August 2019 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 149 6 0 0 0 0 5
New 116 39 0 0 0 0 5

August 2020 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 153 2 0 0 0 0 5
New 124 31 0 0 0 0 5

August 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 144 10 0 0 0 0 6
New 98 56 0 0 0 0 6

August 2022 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 185 1 0 0 0 0 6
New 161 25 0 0 0 0 6

August 2023 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 168 77 0 0 0 0 11
New 114 131 0 0 0 0 11