Processed on 2024-03-04 13:13:38 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 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 Kentucky

May 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 156 28 0 0 0 0 8
New 109 75 0 0 0 0 8

May 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 121 64 0 0 0 0 7
New 71 114 0 0 0 0 7

May 2016 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 145 41 0 0 0 0 6
New 94 92 0 0 0 0 6

May 2017 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 145 38 0 0 0 0 9
New 104 79 0 0 0 0 9

May 2018 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 70 39 0 0 0 0 19
New 34 75 0 0 0 0 19

May 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 169 12 0 0 0 0 11
New 126 55 0 0 0 0 11

May 2020 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 186 0 0 0 0 0 6
New 183 3 0 0 0 0 6

May 2021 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 198 45 0 0 0 0 13
New 165 78 0 0 0 0 13

May 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 262 14 0 0 0 0 12
New 226 50 0 0 0 0 12

May 2023 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 234 44 0 0 0 0 10
New 180 98 0 0 0 0 10