Processed on 2024-03-04 13:14:26 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 October.

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.

October in Kentucky

October 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 135 18 0 0 0 0 7
New 117 36 0 0 0 0 7

October 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 166 18 1 0 0 0 7
New 133 51 1 0 0 0 7

October 2016 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 143 28 0 0 0 0 21
New 83 88 0 0 0 0 21

October 2017 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 178 8 0 0 0 0 6
New 137 49 0 0 0 0 6

October 2018 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 175 10 0 0 0 0 7
New 145 40 0 0 0 0 7

October 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 169 14 0 0 0 0 9
New 155 28 0 0 0 0 9

October 2020 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 176 10 0 0 0 0 6
New 144 42 0 0 0 0 6

October 2021 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 238 10 0 0 0 0 8
New 189 59 0 0 0 0 8

October 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 238 28 0 0 0 0 22
New 203 63 0 0 0 0 22

October 2023 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 273 2 0 0 0 0 13
New 253 22 0 0 0 0 13