Processed on 2024-03-04 13:10:52 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 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 Iowa

October 2014 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 77 9 0 0 0 0 138
New 61 25 0 0 0 0 138

October 2015 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 111 7 0 0 0 0 106
New 90 28 0 0 0 0 106

October 2016 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 119 10 0 0 0 0 95
New 84 45 0 0 0 0 95

October 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 159 16 0 0 0 0 81
New 134 41 0 0 0 0 81

October 2018 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 238 7 0 0 0 0 75
New 219 26 0 0 0 0 75

October 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 183 8 0 0 0 0 33
New 174 17 0 0 0 0 33

October 2020 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 202 18 0 0 0 0 68
New 162 58 0 0 0 0 68

October 2021 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 159 18 0 0 0 0 15
New 130 47 0 0 0 0 15

October 2022 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 207 46 0 0 0 0 35
New 151 102 0 0 0 0 35

October 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 279 22 0 0 0 0 51
New 219 82 0 0 0 0 51