Processed on 2024-03-04 14:04:51 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee

October 2014 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 148 38 0 0 0 0 6
New 112 74 0 0 0 0 6

October 2015 – 6 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 158 24 0 0 0 0 10
New 122 60 0 0 0 0 10

October 2016 – 13 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 141 38 0 0 0 0 13
New 79 100 0 0 0 0 13

October 2017 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 178 6 0 0 0 0 8
New 150 34 0 0 0 0 8

October 2018 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 230 8 0 0 0 0 18
New 195 43 0 0 0 0 18

October 2019 – 8 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 229 12 0 0 0 0 15
New 213 28 0 0 0 0 15

October 2020 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 214 31 0 0 0 0 11
New 167 78 0 0 0 0 11

October 2021 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 249 30 0 0 0 0 9
New 207 72 0 0 0 0 9

October 2022 – 10 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 245 31 0 0 0 0 12
New 202 74 0 0 0 0 12

October 2023 – 11 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 263 10 0 0 0 0 79
New 220 53 0 0 0 0 79