Processed on 2024-03-04 13:14:49 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 December.

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.

December in Kentucky

December 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 122 21 0 0 0 0 12
New 91 52 0 0 0 0 12

December 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 151 32 0 0 0 0 3
New 118 65 0 0 0 0 3

December 2016 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 150 7 0 0 0 0 29
New 110 47 0 0 0 0 29

December 2017 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 155 24 0 0 0 0 7
New 115 64 0 0 0 0 7

December 2018 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 117 13 0 0 0 0 25
New 92 38 0 0 0 0 25

December 2019 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 157 29 0 0 0 0 0
New 116 70 0 0 0 0 0

December 2020 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 127 47 0 0 0 0 12
New 74 100 0 0 0 0 12

December 2021 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 214 33 0 0 0 0 1
New 164 83 0 0 0 0 1

December 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 256 23 0 0 0 0 0
New 212 67 0 0 0 0 0

December 2023 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 253 14 0 0 0 0 3
New 221 46 0 0 0 0 3