Processed on 2024-03-04 14:00:51 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 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 South Carolina

October 2014 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 165 23 0 0 0 0 36
New 112 76 0 0 0 0 36

October 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 166 18 0 0 0 0 8
New 129 55 0 0 0 0 8

October 2016 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 133 28 0 0 0 0 63
New 85 76 0 0 0 0 63

October 2017 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 232 5 0 0 0 0 19
New 205 32 0 0 0 0 19

October 2018 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 215 12 0 0 0 0 61
New 169 58 0 0 0 0 61

October 2019 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 194 23 0 0 0 0 39
New 174 43 0 0 0 0 39

October 2020 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 195 11 0 0 0 0 18
New 161 45 0 0 0 0 18

October 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 187 23 0 0 0 0 14
New 148 62 0 0 0 0 14

October 2022 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 185 56 0 0 0 0 15
New 132 109 0 0 0 0 15

October 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 312 27 0 0 0 0 13
New 260 79 0 0 0 0 13