Processed on 2024-03-04 13:46:27 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 September.

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.

September in North Carolina

September 2014 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 286 6 0 0 0 0 18
New 239 53 0 0 0 0 18

September 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 179 27 0 0 0 0 11
New 152 54 0 0 0 0 11

September 2016 – 31 permanent monitors

Processing error: Unable to calculate tables.

September 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 335 48 0 0 0 0 51
New 256 127 0 0 0 0 51

September 2018 – 35 permanent monitors

Processing error: Unable to calculate tables.

September 2019 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 425 94 0 0 0 0 101
New 275 244 0 0 0 0 101

September 2020 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 29 1 0 0 0 0 1
New 26 4 0 0 0 0 1

September 2021 – 24 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 572 47 0 0 0 0 63
New 447 172 0 0 0 0 63

September 2022 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 646 35 0 0 0 0 63
New 548 133 0 0 0 0 63

September 2023 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 612 56 0 0 0 0 45
New 504 164 0 0 0 0 45