Processed on 2024-03-04 14:05:28 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 Texas spent in each AQI category during the the month of February.

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.

February in Texas

February 2014 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 275 47 0 0 0 0 14
New 201 121 0 0 0 0 14

February 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 293 34 0 0 0 0 9
New 237 90 0 0 0 0 9

February 2016 – 48 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 275 17 0 0 0 0 27
New 234 58 0 0 0 0 27

February 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 167 47 0 0 0 0 10
New 121 93 0 0 0 0 10

February 2018 – 64 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 315 89 0 0 0 0 16
New 184 220 0 0 0 0 16

February 2019 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 505 102 0 0 0 0 37
New 401 206 0 0 0 0 37

February 2020 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 727 61 0 0 0 0 82
New 638 150 0 0 0 0 82

February 2021 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 675 129 0 0 0 0 64
New 505 299 0 0 0 0 64

February 2022 – 49 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 904 79 0 0 0 0 25
New 760 223 0 0 0 0 25

February 2023 – 47 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 944 293 6 1 0 0 72
New 764 473 6 1 0 0 72