Processed on 2024-03-04 13:14:09 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 August.

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.

August in Kentucky

August 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 73 75 0 0 0 0 12
New 42 106 0 0 0 0 12

August 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 131 55 0 0 0 0 6
New 77 109 0 0 0 0 6

August 2016 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 114 46 0 0 0 0 32
New 71 89 0 0 0 0 32

August 2017 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 118 61 0 0 0 0 13
New 68 111 0 0 0 0 13

August 2018 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 109 76 0 0 0 0 7
New 51 134 0 0 0 0 7

August 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 180 6 0 0 0 0 6
New 145 41 0 0 0 0 6

August 2020 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 180 6 0 0 0 0 6
New 148 38 0 0 0 0 6

August 2021 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 166 66 0 0 0 0 24
New 109 123 0 0 0 0 24

August 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 274 5 0 0 0 0 9
New 237 42 0 0 0 0 9

August 2023 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 203 74 0 0 0 0 11
New 142 135 0 0 0 0 11