Processed on 2024-03-04 13:25:28 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota

March 2014 – 17 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 369 72 2 0 0 0 22
New 311 129 3 0 0 0 22

March 2015 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 494 31 0 0 0 0 2
New 418 107 0 0 0 0 2

March 2016 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 523 21 0 0 0 0 14
New 468 76 0 0 0 0 14

March 2017 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 520 28 0 0 0 0 10
New 459 89 0 0 0 0 10

March 2018 – 40 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 518 66 0 0 0 0 5
New 457 127 0 0 0 0 5

March 2019 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 497 106 0 0 0 0 17
New 388 215 0 0 0 0 17

March 2020 – 42 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 621 21 0 0 0 0 9
New 559 83 0 0 0 0 9

March 2021 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 580 50 0 0 0 0 21
New 485 145 0 0 0 0 21

March 2022 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 618 10 0 0 0 0 23
New 579 49 0 0 0 0 23

March 2023 – 21 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 592 41 0 0 0 0 18
New 513 120 0 0 0 0 18