Processed on 2024-03-04 13:17:22 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 Maine spent in each AQI category during the the month of March.

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.

March in Maine

March 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 64 11 0 0 0 0 18
New 51 24 0 0 0 0 18

March 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 135 21 0 0 0 0 30
New 115 41 0 0 0 0 30

March 2016 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 166 12 0 0 0 0 8
New 146 32 0 0 0 0 8

March 2017 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 151 11 0 0 0 0 24
New 137 25 0 0 0 0 24

March 2018 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 196 8 0 0 0 0 13
New 192 12 0 0 0 0 13

March 2019 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 221 8 0 0 0 0 19
New 199 30 0 0 0 0 19

March 2020 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 229 2 0 0 0 0 17
New 218 13 0 0 0 0 17

March 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 239 3 0 0 0 0 6
New 229 13 0 0 0 0 6

March 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 155 1 0 0 0 0 30
New 152 4 0 0 0 0 30

March 2023 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 243 4 0 0 0 0 1
New 237 10 0 0 0 0 1