Processed on 2024-03-04 13:56:52 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 October.

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.

October in Pennsylvania

October 2014 – 2 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 47 15 0 0 0 0 2
New 38 24 0 0 0 0 2

October 2015 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 19 11 1 0 0 0 1
New 17 13 1 0 0 0 1

October 2016 – 31 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 81 12 0 0 0 0 3
New 62 31 0 0 0 0 3

October 2017 – 3 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 64 28 0 0 0 0 4
New 45 47 0 0 0 0 4

October 2018 – 52 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 74 19 0 0 0 0 3
New 55 38 0 0 0 0 3

October 2019 – 28 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 724 57 1 0 0 0 82
New 629 152 1 0 0 0 82

October 2020 – 75 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1080 55 0 0 0 0 113
New 884 251 0 0 0 0 113

October 2021 – 42 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1150 111 0 0 0 0 83
New 927 334 0 0 0 0 83

October 2022 – 45 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 909 120 3 0 0 0 280
New 721 308 3 0 0 0 280

October 2023 – 46 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1270 73 0 0 0 0 97
New 1132 211 0 0 0 0 97