Processed on 2024-03-04 13:56:28 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

August 2014 – 2 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 28 34 0 0 0 0 2
New 15 47 0 0 0 0 2

August 2015 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 23 22 2 0 0 0 17
New 15 30 2 0 0 0 17

August 2016 – 31 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 69 23 0 0 0 0 4
New 35 57 0 0 0 0 4

August 2017 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 46 47 0 0 0 0 3
New 15 78 0 0 0 0 3

August 2018 – 52 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 36 56 0 0 0 0 4
New 9 83 0 0 0 0 4

August 2019 – 28 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 605 76 0 0 0 0 87
New 439 242 0 0 0 0 87

August 2020 – 75 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1038 114 0 0 0 0 96
New 760 392 0 0 0 0 96

August 2021 – 42 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 935 342 0 0 0 0 67
New 487 790 0 0 0 0 67

August 2022 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1118 76 0 0 0 0 118
New 865 329 0 0 0 0 118

August 2023 – 46 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 992 353 0 0 0 0 95
New 762 583 0 0 0 0 95