Processed on 2024-03-04 12:56:50 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 Delaware 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 Delaware

October 2014 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 91 2 0 0 0 0 3
New 80 13 0 0 0 0 3

October 2015 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 90 1 0 0 0 0 5
New 84 7 0 0 0 0 5

October 2016 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 90 0 0 0 0 0 6
New 76 14 0 0 0 0 6

October 2017 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 93 0 0 0 0 0 3
New 88 5 0 0 0 0 3

October 2018 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 112 0 0 0 0 0 48
New 105 7 0 0 0 0 48

October 2019 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 152 3 0 0 0 0 5
New 141 14 0 0 0 0 5

October 2020 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 149 1 0 0 0 0 10
New 133 17 0 0 0 0 10

October 2021 – 5 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 146 2 0 0 0 0 12
New 128 20 0 0 0 0 12

October 2022 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 174 1 0 0 0 0 17
New 156 19 0 0 0 0 17

October 2023 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 219 24 0 0 0 0 13
New 183 60 0 0 0 0 13