Processed on 2024-03-04 13:40:06 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 New Jersey spent in each AQI category during the the month of May.

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.

May in New Jersey

May 2014 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 131 60 0 0 0 0 33
New 89 102 0 0 0 0 33

May 2015 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 181 119 0 0 0 0 20
New 115 185 0 0 0 0 20

May 2016 – 24 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 273 67 0 0 0 0 44
New 204 136 0 0 0 0 44

May 2017 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 278 33 0 0 0 0 73
New 250 61 0 0 0 0 73

May 2018 – 24 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 282 71 0 0 0 0 31
New 199 154 0 0 0 0 31

May 2019 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 297 46 0 0 0 0 41
New 248 95 0 0 0 0 41

May 2020 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 253 4 0 0 0 0 31
New 229 28 0 0 0 0 31

May 2021 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 228 25 0 0 0 0 99
New 173 80 0 0 0 0 99

May 2022 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 335 46 0 0 0 0 35
New 293 88 0 0 0 0 35

May 2023 – 17 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 389 67 0 0 0 0 24
New 316 140 0 0 0 0 24