Processed on 2024-03-04 13:46:36 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 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 North Carolina

October 2014 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 274 21 0 0 0 0 25
New 234 61 0 0 0 0 25

October 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 188 16 0 0 0 0 20
New 153 51 0 0 0 0 20

October 2016 – 31 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 307 27 0 0 0 0 50
New 247 87 0 0 0 0 50

October 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 401 9 0 0 0 0 38
New 357 53 0 0 0 0 38

October 2018 – 35 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 406 14 0 0 0 0 60
New 345 75 0 0 0 0 60

October 2019 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 542 52 0 0 0 0 46
New 500 94 0 0 0 0 46

October 2020 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 595 37 0 0 0 0 104
New 478 154 0 0 0 0 104

October 2021 – 24 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 651 26 0 0 0 0 59
New 540 137 0 0 0 0 59

October 2022 – 25 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 594 89 0 0 0 0 85
New 464 219 0 0 0 0 85

October 2023 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 612 41 0 0 0 0 147
New 505 148 0 0 0 0 147