Processed on 2024-03-04 13:10:02 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 May.

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.

May in Iowa

May 2014 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 115 29 0 0 0 0 48
New 88 56 0 0 0 0 48

May 2015 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 58 8 0 0 0 0 30
New 48 18 0 0 0 0 30

May 2016 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 77 15 2 0 0 0 162
New 64 28 2 0 0 0 162

May 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 193 44 0 0 0 0 51
New 149 88 0 0 0 0 51

May 2018 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 166 68 0 0 0 0 22
New 87 147 0 0 0 0 22

May 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 237 7 0 0 0 0 12
New 218 26 0 0 0 0 12

May 2020 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 212 5 0 0 0 0 7
New 193 24 0 0 0 0 7

May 2021 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 208 6 0 0 0 0 10
New 173 41 0 0 0 0 10

May 2022 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 243 40 0 0 0 0 37
New 211 72 0 0 0 0 37

May 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 224 77 1 0 0 0 18
New 127 174 1 0 0 0 18