Processed on 2024-03-04 14:01:08 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 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 South Carolina

December 2014 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 116 37 0 0 0 0 33
New 85 68 0 0 0 0 33

December 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 106 28 0 0 0 0 21
New 73 61 0 0 0 0 21

December 2016 – 15 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 171 19 0 0 0 0 27
New 128 62 0 0 0 0 27

December 2017 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 147 40 1 2 0 0 58
New 111 76 1 2 0 0 58

December 2018 – 19 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 212 14 0 0 0 0 22
New 184 42 0 0 0 0 22

December 2019 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 186 26 0 0 0 0 36
New 154 58 0 0 0 0 36

December 2020 – 18 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 201 30 0 0 0 0 17
New 155 76 0 0 0 0 17

December 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 218 52 0 0 0 0 9
New 178 92 0 0 0 0 9

December 2022 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 210 38 0 0 0 0 0
New 146 102 0 0 0 0 0

December 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 270 38 0 0 0 0 22
New 247 61 0 0 0 0 22