Processed on 2024-03-04 14:04:00 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 Tennessee spent in each AQI category during the the month of May.

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.

May in Tennessee

May 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 98 84 0 0 0 0 10
New 44 138 0 0 0 0 10

May 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 109 73 0 0 0 0 10
New 67 115 0 0 0 0 10

May 2016 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 128 53 0 0 0 0 11
New 79 102 0 0 0 0 11

May 2017 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 132 23 0 0 0 0 37
New 96 59 0 0 0 0 37

May 2018 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 143 50 0 0 0 0 31
New 109 84 0 0 0 0 31

May 2019 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 169 67 1 0 0 0 19
New 122 114 1 0 0 0 19

May 2020 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 247 1 0 0 0 0 8
New 223 25 0 0 0 0 8

May 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 200 54 0 0 0 0 34
New 149 105 0 0 0 0 34

May 2022 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 222 26 0 0 0 0 40
New 167 81 0 0 0 0 40

May 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 235 64 0 0 0 0 21
New 175 124 0 0 0 0 21