Processed on 2024-03-04 13:18:15 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 Maine spent in each AQI category during the the month of August.

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.

August in Maine

August 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 93 22 0 0 0 0 13
New 69 46 0 0 0 0 13

August 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 148 17 0 0 0 0 27
New 132 33 0 0 0 0 27

August 2016 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 182 1 0 0 0 0 9
New 176 7 0 0 0 0 9

August 2017 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 155 27 0 0 0 0 10
New 114 68 0 0 0 0 10

August 2018 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 187 19 0 0 0 0 18
New 150 56 0 0 0 0 18

August 2019 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 242 2 0 0 0 0 12
New 221 23 0 0 0 0 12

August 2020 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 242 2 0 0 0 0 12
New 231 13 0 0 0 0 12

August 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 196 29 0 0 0 0 31
New 160 65 0 0 0 0 31

August 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 216 1 0 0 0 0 7
New 206 11 0 0 0 0 7

August 2023 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 304 32 0 0 0 0 16
New 283 53 0 0 0 0 16