Processed on 2024-03-04 13:10:30 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 Iowa 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 Iowa

August 2014 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 56 43 0 0 0 0 29
New 34 65 0 0 0 0 29

August 2015 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 120 16 0 0 0 0 56
New 99 37 0 0 0 0 56

August 2016 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 111 6 0 0 0 0 43
New 96 21 0 0 0 0 43

August 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 156 37 0 0 0 0 31
New 109 84 0 0 0 0 31

August 2018 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 123 84 0 0 0 0 49
New 85 122 0 0 0 0 49

August 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 239 4 0 0 0 0 13
New 213 30 0 0 0 0 13

August 2020 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 187 19 0 0 0 0 50
New 144 62 0 0 0 0 50

August 2021 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 152 48 4 0 0 0 20
New 91 109 4 0 0 0 20

August 2022 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 249 4 0 0 0 0 35
New 206 47 0 0 0 0 35

August 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 191 133 0 0 0 0 28
New 133 191 0 0 0 0 28