Processed on 2024-03-04 13:19:46 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 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 Maryland

May 2014 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 173 59 0 0 0 0 56
New 104 128 0 0 0 0 56

May 2015 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 160 62 0 0 0 0 66
New 103 119 0 0 0 0 66

May 2016 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 233 38 0 0 0 0 49
New 178 93 0 0 0 0 49

May 2017 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 241 3 0 0 0 0 44
New 227 17 0 0 0 0 44

May 2018 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 251 24 0 0 0 0 45
New 196 79 0 0 0 0 45

May 2019 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 264 6 0 0 0 0 50
New 239 31 0 0 0 0 50

May 2020 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 343 0 0 0 0 0 41
New 335 8 0 0 0 0 41

May 2021 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 355 7 0 0 0 0 22
New 314 48 0 0 0 0 22

May 2022 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 345 19 0 0 0 0 52
New 309 55 0 0 0 0 52

May 2023 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 311 44 0 0 0 0 61
New 263 92 0 0 0 0 61