Processed on 2024-03-04 13:44:21 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 August.

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.

August in New York

August 2014 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 447 36 0 0 0 0 29
New 384 99 0 0 0 0 29

August 2015 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 483 76 0 0 0 0 49
New 419 140 0 0 0 0 49

August 2016 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 535 9 0 0 0 0 32
New 492 52 0 0 0 0 32

August 2017 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 532 63 0 0 0 0 109
New 437 158 0 0 0 0 109

August 2018 – 41 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 448 159 1 0 0 0 64
New 357 250 1 0 0 0 64

August 2019 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 610 23 0 0 0 0 39
New 566 67 0 0 0 0 39

August 2020 – 36 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 546 16 0 0 0 0 46
New 472 90 0 0 0 0 46

August 2021 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 490 88 0 0 0 0 62
New 391 187 0 0 0 0 62

August 2022 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 709 24 0 0 0 0 35
New 636 97 0 0 0 0 35

August 2023 – 27 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 644 117 0 0 0 0 103
New 533 228 0 0 0 0 103