Processed on 2024-03-04 13:05:55 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 Illinois 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 Illinois

May 2014 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 246 70 0 0 0 0 36
New 173 143 0 0 0 0 36

May 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 276 58 0 0 0 0 18
New 197 137 0 0 0 0 18

May 2016 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 253 50 0 0 0 0 49
New 184 119 0 0 0 0 49

May 2017 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 340 59 0 0 0 0 49
New 240 159 0 0 0 0 49

May 2018 – 40 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 503 132 0 0 0 0 37
New 271 364 0 0 0 0 37

May 2019 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 534 43 0 0 0 0 95
New 414 163 0 0 0 0 95

May 2020 – 43 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 588 34 0 0 0 0 114
New 527 95 0 0 0 0 114

May 2021 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 579 70 0 0 0 0 55
New 420 229 0 0 0 0 55

May 2022 – 24 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 575 108 0 0 0 0 53
New 464 219 0 0 0 0 53

May 2023 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 596 135 0 0 0 0 37
New 387 344 0 0 0 0 37