Processed on 2024-03-04 13:46:09 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 North Carolina spent in each AQI category during the the month of July.

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.

July in North Carolina

July 2014 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 277 50 0 0 0 0 25
New 150 177 0 0 0 0 25

July 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 142 79 0 0 0 0 35
New 85 136 0 0 0 0 35

July 2016 – 31 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 261 29 0 0 0 0 62
New 191 99 0 0 0 0 62

July 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 357 66 0 0 0 0 25
New 260 163 0 0 0 0 25

July 2018 – 35 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 381 49 0 0 0 0 50
New 270 160 0 0 0 0 50

July 2019 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 340 68 0 0 0 0 104
New 214 194 0 0 0 0 104

July 2020 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 600 64 2 0 0 0 38
New 443 221 2 0 0 0 38

July 2021 – 24 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 442 236 3 0 0 0 55
New 314 364 3 0 0 0 55

July 2022 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 668 28 0 0 0 0 72
New 554 142 0 0 0 0 72

July 2023 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 488 170 29 0 0 0 49
New 336 321 30 0 0 0 49