Processed on 2024-03-04 13:18:55 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 December.

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.

December in Maine

December 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 119 3 0 0 0 0 33
New 107 15 0 0 0 0 33

December 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 138 21 0 0 0 0 27
New 118 41 0 0 0 0 27

December 2016 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 148 33 0 0 0 0 5
New 116 65 0 0 0 0 5

December 2017 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 155 22 0 0 0 0 40
New 132 45 0 0 0 0 40

December 2018 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 194 32 0 0 0 0 22
New 164 62 0 0 0 0 22

December 2019 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 198 19 0 0 0 0 0
New 180 37 0 0 0 0 0

December 2020 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 219 8 0 0 0 0 21
New 206 21 0 0 0 0 21

December 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 221 4 0 0 0 0 54
New 208 17 0 0 0 0 54

December 2022 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 171 12 0 0 0 0 34
New 165 18 0 0 0 0 34

December 2023 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 295 39 0 0 0 0 26
New 270 64 0 0 0 0 26