Processed on 2024-03-04 13:19:15 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 Maryland spent in each AQI category during the the month of February.

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.

February in Maryland

February 2014 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 120 85 0 0 0 0 19
New 77 127 1 0 0 0 19

February 2015 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 146 93 0 0 0 0 13
New 77 162 0 0 0 0 13

February 2016 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 262 27 0 0 0 0 1
New 210 79 0 0 0 0 1

February 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 246 27 0 0 0 0 7
New 181 92 0 0 0 0 7

February 2018 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 241 38 0 0 0 0 1
New 200 79 0 0 0 0 1

February 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 231 48 0 0 0 0 1
New 200 79 0 0 0 0 1

February 2020 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 278 12 0 0 0 0 0
New 252 38 0 0 0 0 0

February 2021 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 258 76 0 0 0 0 2
New 205 129 0 0 0 0 2

February 2022 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 314 44 0 0 0 0 6
New 255 103 0 0 0 0 6

February 2023 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 328 24 0 0 0 0 12
New 284 68 0 0 0 0 12