Processed on 2024-03-04 14:06:29 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 August.

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.

August in Texas

August 2014 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 204 120 0 0 0 0 28
New 115 209 0 0 0 0 28

August 2015 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 238 106 0 0 0 0 40
New 121 223 0 0 0 0 40

August 2016 – 48 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 228 46 0 0 0 0 14
New 153 121 0 0 0 0 14

August 2017 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 318 37 0 0 0 0 93
New 216 139 0 0 0 0 93

August 2018 – 64 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 500 166 2 0 0 0 36
New 378 288 2 0 0 0 36

August 2019 – 30 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 598 166 0 0 0 0 100
New 335 429 0 0 0 0 100

August 2020 – 67 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 711 157 0 0 0 0 92
New 525 343 0 0 0 0 92

August 2021 – 37 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 774 275 0 0 0 0 103
New 497 552 0 0 0 0 103

August 2022 – 49 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 1303 111 0 0 0 0 122
New 1089 325 0 0 0 0 122

August 2023 – 47 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 930 365 0 0 0 0 145
New 436 859 0 0 0 0 145