*BC (black carbon) has been used in the AQHI calculation when available; BC data not available at all sites and times. 
Health Risk AQHI At Risk Population General Population
Low Risk 1 – 3 Enjoy your usual outdoor activities. Ideal air quality for outdoor activities.
Moderate Risk 4 – 6 Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you are experiencing symptoms. No need to modify your usual outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms.
High Risk 7 – 10 Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also take it easy. Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you experience symptoms.
Very High Risk 10+ Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion. Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms.

Health Vulnerability Statement

All communities included in this report are designated as “underserved” by MDEnviroScreen. Notably, Turner Station, Cheverly, Cedar Heights, Curtis Bay, and areas near HCNR, and HU-B are further classified as “overburdened,” meaning they face a cumulative impact of three or more environmental or health stressors.

Critical sensitive population indicators (75th Percentile or higher):

Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a reliable guide to daily health risks, made stronger by the addition of black carbon data. While the AQHI+ successfully captures common and immediate threats to human health, no single index is exhaustive for all toxic substances or localized pollutants. Due to compounding health disparities and socio-environmental stressors, the reported AQHI+ represents a conservative baseline; the actual risk to residents in the tracts mentioned above is likely higher than this index alone suggests.

MDEnviroScreen Map

Spatial distribution of overburdened communities via MDEnviroScreen.

AQHI Summary for All ARP Grant-funded Modulair Sensors (BC Adjusted)
Sensor Total_Hours Mean_AQHI Median_AQHI Max_AQHI Hours_High_Risk Min_AQHI
MOD_00536 - Cheverly 683 4 3 6 0 2
MOD_00537 - Turner Station North 728 4 4 8 18 2
MOD_00745 - Cedar Heights 728 4 3 7 26 1
MOD_00746 - HCNR 728 2 2 5 0 1
MOD_00747 - Turner Station South 728 3 3 7 7 1
MOD_00748 - Annapolis 728 3 3 7 4 1
MOD_00749 - HU - Beltsville 728 2 2 6 0 1
AQHI Summary at MDE Regulatory Monitors*
Monitor Total_Hours Mean_AQHI Median_AQHI Max_AQHI Hours_High_Risk Min_AQHI
HUB 716 2 2 5 0 1
Essex 0 NaN NA -Inf 0 Inf
Lake_Montebello 723 3 3 5 0 1
Piney_Run 689 2 2 4 0 0
HCNR 704 3 3 6 0 1
*HCNR statistics are a hybrid of regulatory monitor data (PM2.5 & NO2) and sensor data (O3). All regulatory data is preliminary 

The highest AQHI value recorded was 8, reached by sensor(s) MOD_00537 - Turner Station North ( 1 h)

Highest AQHI Sensor(s) and Hours at Maximum
Sensor Max_AQHI Hours_at_Max
MOD_00537 - Turner Station North 8 1

Summary Statistics for MetOne Sensors (880nm)
Monitor Total Hours Mean 880 Median 880 Max 880 Min 880 Skew Kurtosis #Hours ≥600 %Hours ≥600 #Hours ≥330 %Hours ≥330 #Hours ≥33 %Hours ≥33
B19939 565 125.40 92.89 733.300 35.54068 2.672707 9.912288 3 0.5 19 3.4 565 100
D11556 732 698.63 603.17 3629.185 108.32500 1.759502 5.254342 367 50.1 558 76.2 732 100
D11559 731 442.88 340.70 2317.228 103.52881 2.157172 6.875126 176 24.1 379 51.8 731 100
D14645 713 905.60 568.85 11722.635 115.14833 4.209974 31.240939 347 48.7 548 76.9 713 100
D14648 664 760.62 547.72 10538.755 111.71167 4.978682 45.616160 301 45.3 493 74.2 664 100

Ratio Polar Plots by Location

Cheverly

PM1 / PM2.5

PM2.5 / PM10

BC / PM2.5

NO2 / NO

Turner Station North

PM1 / PM2.5

PM2.5 / PM10

BC / PM2.5

NO2 / NO

Cedar Heights

PM1 / PM2.5

PM2.5 / PM10

BC / PM2.5

NO2 / NO

HCNR

PM1 / PM2.5

PM2.5 / PM10

NO2 / NO

Turner Station South

PM1 / PM2.5

PM2.5 / PM10

BC / PM2.5

NO2 / NO

Annapolis

PM1 / PM2.5

PM2.5 / PM10

BC / PM2.5

NO2 / NO

HU - Beltsville

PM1 / PM2.5

PM2.5 / PM10

NO2 / NO

Concentration Statistics Matrix; red highlighting =/>6x MAD; fog filter applied to PM2.5 & PM10 data
Station Pollutant Mean Median MAD Max (Outlier Check) Skew Kurtosis Valid Obs
Annapolis co 778.94 757.92 74.81 1198.81 1.02 1.24 728
Annapolis no 2.02 1.85 0.35 4.78 1.38 2.22 728
Annapolis no2 14.37 11.20 8.51 42.26 0.80 -0.58 728
Annapolis o3 21.92 20.45 15.47 53.49 0.37 -0.86 728
Annapolis pm1 5.79 4.98 2.36 15.99 0.96 0.51 732
Annapolis pm10 10.88 10.58 3.54 33.97 1.03 2.67 732
Annapolis pm25 6.28 5.47 2.33 16.57 0.98 0.55 732
Cedar Heights co 814.00 798.65 96.54 1940.84 2.14 14.07 728
Cedar Heights no 2.10 1.89 0.39 9.42 3.55 31.15 728
Cedar Heights no2 18.02 14.39 11.38 51.04 0.55 -0.90 728
Cedar Heights o3 21.81 19.19 15.06 55.68 0.47 -0.82 728
Cedar Heights pm1 7.87 7.13 3.92 55.43 3.43 31.06 732
Cedar Heights pm10 12.55 11.57 4.17 100.24 5.64 65.38 732
Cedar Heights pm25 8.30 7.56 3.85 56.03 3.47 31.57 732
Cheverly co 519.29 494.72 73.74 1288.13 2.02 7.24 684
Cheverly no 2.08 1.87 0.22 20.6 13.84 264.51 684
Cheverly no2 14.11 11.36 8.36 42.46 0.63 -0.75 684
Cheverly o3 36.56 36.18 13.58 68.99 0.17 -0.77 684
Cheverly pm1 9.83 9.21 4.44 34.33 0.80 1.27 688
Cheverly pm10 19.80 18.36 6.16 94.61 2.49 12.93 688
Cheverly pm25 10.39 9.72 4.41 34.86 0.82 1.31 688
HCNR co 853.60 837.74 100.75 1527.95 0.84 2.08 729
HCNR no 2.24 1.98 0.45 13.23 5.71 50.87 729
HCNR no2 12.32 9.69 6.07 47.28 1.25 0.78 729
HCNR o3 19.91 16.53 15.56 51.25 0.46 -1.03 729
HCNR pm1 6.31 5.54 2.87 18.21 0.99 0.76 732
HCNR pm10 14.21 13.71 5.01 52.81 1.59 5.79 732
HCNR pm25 6.99 6.20 2.77 18.58 0.98 0.73 732
HU - Beltsville co 750.66 748.45 70.84 968.69 0.26 -0.42 729
HU - Beltsville no 2.07 1.89 0.33 3.56 0.78 -0.41 729
HU - Beltsville no2 13.14 10.74 6.31 42.98 1.24 0.71 729
HU - Beltsville o3 19.69 15.73 18.29 58.04 0.51 -0.96 729
HU - Beltsville pm1 6.23 5.48 3.03 17.68 0.86 0.30 732
HU - Beltsville pm10 20.04 14.89 6.31 304.49 5.59 48.49 731
HU - Beltsville pm25 7.03 6.26 2.75 18.1 0.86 0.30 731
Turner Station North co 531.15 514.09 73.50 1016.19 1.20 2.22 729
Turner Station North no 2.01 1.86 0.35 3.96 1.11 1.12 729
Turner Station North no2 13.30 11.25 7.77 47.66 0.93 0.16 729
Turner Station North o3 38.26 38.99 11.48 62.05 0.03 -0.82 729
Turner Station North pm1 10.74 9.57 4.52 27.77 0.81 0.17 732
Turner Station North pm10 18.89 17.90 6.09 55.77 1.12 2.03 732
Turner Station North pm25 11.51 10.30 4.47 28.35 0.83 0.17 732
Turner Station South co 647.01 630.75 67.40 1415.16 2.20 10.93 729
Turner Station South no 2.10 1.85 0.41 5.6 1.78 4.23 729
Turner Station South no2 13.89 11.06 8.55 47.39 0.80 -0.47 729
Turner Station South o3 29.13 27.90 12.81 54.97 0.26 -0.87 729
Turner Station South pm1 6.49 5.65 2.96 19.88 0.92 0.79 732
Turner Station South pm10 22.06 19.64 7.85 117.1 3.16 13.96 732
Turner Station South pm25 7.15 6.26 3.00 21.19 0.94 0.95 732

Submit Air Pollution Complaint

MDE’s Air Quality Compliance Program investigates concerns of dust, odor, smoke, open burning, and unpermitted emissions.

Complaints may be submitted to mdeair.complaints@maryland.gov or (410) 537-3215.

When submitting a complaint, please include: * Your name and contact information (phone number or email address); * The county you are calling about; * A brief description of your concern with an address.

Concerns related to agricultural issues can be directed to the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5700.

Concerns related to vehicle emissions are dealt with by the Maryland Department’s Air Quality Mobile Sources Program at 410-537-3270.

Note: MDE does not regulate indoor air or mold.