Processed on 2024-03-04 13:11:10 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 December.

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.

December in Iowa

December 2014 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 30 48 0 0 0 0 15
New 15 63 0 0 0 0 15

December 2015 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 125 64 0 0 0 0 28
New 89 100 0 0 0 0 28

December 2016 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 94 51 0 0 0 0 72
New 62 83 0 0 0 0 72

December 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 152 50 0 0 0 0 46
New 119 83 0 0 0 0 46

December 2018 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 128 38 0 0 0 0 51
New 96 70 0 0 0 0 51

December 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 96 53 0 0 0 0 37
New 72 77 0 0 0 0 37

December 2020 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 153 91 0 0 0 0 4
New 108 136 0 0 0 0 4

December 2021 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 150 47 0 0 0 0 20
New 112 85 0 0 0 0 20

December 2022 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 246 50 0 0 0 0 45
New 178 118 0 0 0 0 45

December 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 275 49 0 0 0 0 6
New 213 111 0 0 0 0 6