Processed on 2024-03-04 13:09:35 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 Iowa spent in each AQI category during the the month of February.

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.

February in Iowa

February 2014 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 68 71 1 0 0 0 0
New 38 101 1 0 0 0 0

February 2015 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 14 25 0 0 0 0 17
New 5 34 0 0 0 0 17

February 2016 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 107 65 0 0 0 0 2
New 74 98 0 0 0 0 2

February 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 122 54 0 0 0 0 76
New 85 91 0 0 0 0 76

February 2018 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 138 62 0 0 0 0 52
New 100 100 0 0 0 0 52

February 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 113 76 0 0 0 0 35
New 75 114 0 0 0 0 35

February 2020 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 143 19 0 0 0 0 70
New 112 50 0 0 0 0 70

February 2021 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 150 72 2 0 0 0 0
New 115 107 2 0 0 0 0

February 2022 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 131 27 0 0 0 0 10
New 100 58 0 0 0 0 10

February 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 229 22 0 0 0 0 29
New 187 64 0 0 0 0 29