Processed on 2024-03-04 13:43:53 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 York 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 York

May 2014 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 340 23 0 0 0 0 21
New 307 56 0 0 0 0 21

May 2015 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 425 98 0 0 0 0 117
New 321 202 0 0 0 0 117

May 2016 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 465 71 0 0 0 0 40
New 428 108 0 0 0 0 40

May 2017 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 508 16 0 0 0 0 84
New 477 47 0 0 0 0 84

May 2018 – 41 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 557 76 0 0 0 0 39
New 468 165 0 0 0 0 39

May 2019 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 46 16 0 0 0 0 2
New 27 35 0 0 0 0 2

May 2020 – 36 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 528 1 0 0 0 0 79
New 511 18 0 0 0 0 79

May 2021 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 522 16 0 0 0 0 70
New 460 78 0 0 0 0 70

May 2022 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 717 29 0 0 0 0 54
New 650 96 0 0 0 0 54

May 2023 – 27 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 750 73 0 0 0 0 41
New 651 172 0 0 0 0 41