Processed on 2024-03-04 13:13:21 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 Kentucky spent in each AQI category during the the month of March.

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.

March in Kentucky

March 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 167 19 0 0 0 0 0
New 122 64 0 0 0 0 0

March 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 156 12 0 0 0 0 18
New 120 48 0 0 0 0 18

March 2016 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 158 26 0 0 0 0 2
New 114 70 0 0 0 0 2

March 2017 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 152 27 0 0 0 0 7
New 105 74 0 0 0 0 7

March 2018 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 169 12 0 0 0 0 5
New 148 33 0 0 0 0 5

March 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 158 24 0 0 0 0 4
New 117 65 0 0 0 0 4

March 2020 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 173 11 0 0 0 0 2
New 153 31 0 0 0 0 2

March 2021 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 212 35 1 0 0 0 0
New 180 67 1 0 0 0 0

March 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 240 38 0 0 0 0 1
New 193 85 0 0 0 0 1

March 2023 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 233 42 0 0 0 0 4
New 181 94 0 0 0 0 4