Processed on 2024-03-04 13:44:57 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 December.

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.

December in New York

December 2014 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 402 57 0 0 0 0 6
New 291 168 0 0 0 0 6

December 2015 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 405 140 0 0 0 0 13
New 321 224 0 0 0 0 13

December 2016 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 548 35 0 0 0 0 6
New 414 169 0 0 0 0 6

December 2017 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 576 75 0 0 0 0 31
New 409 242 0 0 0 0 31

December 2018 – 41 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 590 88 0 0 0 0 35
New 408 270 0 0 0 0 35

December 2019 – 23 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 502 101 0 0 0 0 17
New 390 213 0 0 0 0 17

December 2020 – 36 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 490 82 0 0 0 0 17
New 358 214 0 0 0 0 17

December 2021 – 20 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 533 84 0 0 0 0 3
New 363 254 0 0 0 0 3

December 2022 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 655 102 0 0 0 0 18
New 534 223 0 0 0 0 18

December 2023 – 27 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 539 126 0 0 0 0 25
New 428 237 0 0 0 0 25