Processed on 2024-03-04 13:18:34 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 October.

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.

October in Maine

October 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 122 10 0 0 0 0 28
New 114 18 0 0 0 0 28

October 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 148 7 0 0 0 0 37
New 129 26 0 0 0 0 37

October 2016 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 181 0 0 0 0 0 11
New 178 3 0 0 0 0 11

October 2017 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 185 1 0 0 0 0 38
New 178 8 0 0 0 0 38

October 2018 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 230 0 0 0 0 0 26
New 228 2 0 0 0 0 26

October 2019 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 239 1 0 0 0 0 16
New 228 12 0 0 0 0 16

October 2020 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 239 1 0 0 0 0 16
New 238 2 0 0 0 0 16

October 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 243 0 0 0 0 0 13
New 241 2 0 0 0 0 13

October 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 215 2 0 0 0 0 7
New 208 9 0 0 0 0 7

October 2023 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 302 17 1 0 0 0 32
New 284 35 1 0 0 0 32