Processed on 2024-03-04 13:09:44 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 March.

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.

March in Iowa

March 2014 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 70 79 4 0 0 0 33
New 45 104 4 0 0 0 33

March 2015 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 31 31 0 0 0 0 0
New 11 51 0 0 0 0 0

March 2016 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 115 62 0 0 0 0 9
New 69 108 0 0 0 0 9

March 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 170 65 0 0 0 0 44
New 122 113 0 0 0 0 44

March 2018 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 169 35 0 0 0 0 44
New 111 93 0 0 0 0 44

March 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 158 55 0 0 0 0 97
New 124 89 0 0 0 0 97

March 2020 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 214 36 0 0 0 0 60
New 170 80 0 0 0 0 60

March 2021 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 163 61 0 0 0 0 24
New 121 103 0 0 0 0 24

March 2022 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 220 27 0 0 0 0 32
New 183 64 0 0 0 0 32

March 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 248 40 0 0 0 0 53
New 173 115 0 0 0 0 53