Processed on 2024-03-04 14:00:29 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina

August 2014 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 120 67 0 0 0 0 37
New 70 117 0 0 0 0 37

August 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 153 60 0 0 0 0 11
New 80 133 0 0 0 0 11

August 2016 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 137 6 0 0 0 0 49
New 108 35 0 0 0 0 49

August 2017 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 209 23 0 0 0 0 24
New 145 87 0 0 0 0 24

August 2018 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 223 32 2 0 0 0 31
New 187 68 2 0 0 0 31

August 2019 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 221 34 0 0 0 0 33
New 159 96 0 0 0 0 33

August 2020 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 212 15 0 0 0 0 29
New 174 53 0 0 0 0 29

August 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 151 63 0 0 0 0 10
New 101 113 0 0 0 0 10

August 2022 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 238 10 0 0 0 0 8
New 206 42 0 0 0 0 8

August 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 246 66 0 0 0 0 40
New 168 144 0 0 0 0 40