Processed on 2024-03-04 14:12:24 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 Virginia 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 Virginia

August 2014 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 174 33 0 0 0 0 17
New 112 95 0 0 0 0 17

August 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 196 16 0 0 0 0 12
New 137 75 0 0 0 0 12

August 2016 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 177 3 0 0 0 0 12
New 148 32 0 0 0 0 12

August 2017 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 141 6 0 0 0 0 45
New 103 44 0 0 0 0 45

August 2018 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 151 29 0 0 0 0 12
New 110 70 0 0 0 0 12

August 2019 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 205 8 0 0 0 0 11
New 168 45 0 0 0 0 11

August 2020 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 211 1 0 0 0 0 12
New 171 41 0 0 0 0 12

August 2021 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 138 44 0 0 0 0 10
New 76 106 0 0 0 0 10

August 2022 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 270 2 0 0 0 0 16
New 220 52 0 0 0 0 16

August 2023 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 282 55 0 0 0 0 15
New 215 122 0 0 0 0 15