Processed on 2024-03-04 14:05:37 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 March.

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.

March in Texas

March 2014 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 315 49 0 0 0 0 8
New 207 157 0 0 0 0 8

March 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 328 18 0 0 0 0 26
New 290 56 0 0 0 0 26

March 2016 – 48 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 288 38 0 0 0 0 15
New 223 103 0 0 0 0 15

March 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 187 20 0 0 0 0 41
New 155 52 0 0 0 0 41

March 2018 – 64 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 340 161 0 0 0 0 88
New 205 296 0 0 0 0 88

March 2019 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 569 127 0 0 0 0 79
New 394 302 0 0 0 0 79

March 2020 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 635 214 0 0 0 0 81
New 423 426 0 0 0 0 81

March 2021 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 759 178 0 0 0 0 24
New 547 390 0 0 0 0 24

March 2022 – 49 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 986 135 0 0 0 0 26
New 758 363 0 0 0 0 26

March 2023 – 47 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 913 490 2 0 0 0 52
New 592 811 2 0 0 0 52