Processed on 2024-03-04 14:06:00 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 Texas 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 Texas

May 2014 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 323 43 0 0 0 0 18
New 235 131 0 0 0 0 18

May 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 232 116 0 0 0 0 36
New 162 186 0 0 0 0 36

May 2016 – 48 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 228 43 0 0 0 0 17
New 177 94 0 0 0 0 17

May 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 208 49 0 0 0 0 63
New 164 93 0 0 0 0 63

May 2018 – 64 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 409 129 0 0 0 0 70
New 247 291 0 0 0 0 70

May 2019 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 514 229 2 0 0 0 55
New 328 415 2 0 0 0 55

May 2020 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 739 140 0 0 0 0 113
New 617 262 0 0 0 0 113

May 2021 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 830 112 0 0 0 0 82
New 669 273 0 0 0 0 82

May 2022 – 49 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 733 406 0 0 0 0 109
New 421 718 0 0 0 0 109

May 2023 – 47 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 747 563 7 0 0 0 123
New 499 811 7 0 0 0 123