Processed on 2024-03-04 14:12:42 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 October.

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.

October in Virginia

October 2014 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 211 6 0 0 0 0 7
New 201 16 0 0 0 0 7

October 2015 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 209 4 0 0 0 0 11
New 197 16 0 0 0 0 11

October 2016 – 16 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 178 1 0 0 0 0 13
New 159 20 0 0 0 0 13

October 2017 – 9 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 172 2 0 0 0 0 18
New 158 16 0 0 0 0 18

October 2018 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 174 0 0 0 0 0 18
New 149 25 0 0 0 0 18

October 2019 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 207 8 0 0 0 0 9
New 197 18 0 0 0 0 9

October 2020 – 14 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 212 3 0 0 0 0 9
New 190 25 0 0 0 0 9

October 2021 – 7 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 180 5 0 0 0 0 7
New 155 30 0 0 0 0 7

October 2022 – 12 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 249 5 0 0 0 0 34
New 200 54 0 0 0 0 34

October 2023 – 26 permanent monitors

Good Moderate USG Unhealthy Very Unhealthy Hazardous Missing
Old 327 11 0 0 0 0 14
New 297 41 0 0 0 0 14