AQHI Report + Black Carbon
September 04, 2026
Air & Radiation Administration
AQHI Time Series by Location
Cheverly
Turner Station North
Cedar Heights
HCNR
Turner Station South
Annapolis
HU - Beltsville
| 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):
Low Birth Weight: Curtis Bay and Turner Station.
Asthma Discharges: Annapolis, Curtis Bay, and Turner Station.
Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack): Curtis Bay and Turner Station.
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.
Spatial distribution of overburdened communities via MDEnviroScreen.
| Sensor | Total_Hours | Mean_AQHI | Median_AQHI | Max_AQHI | Hours_High_Risk | Min_AQHI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOD_00536 - Cheverly | 729 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| MOD_00537 - Turner Station North | 729 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 2 |
| MOD_00745 - Cedar Heights | 729 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 1 |
| MOD_00746 - HCNR | 729 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| MOD_00747 - Turner Station South | 729 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 1 |
| MOD_00748 - Annapolis | 729 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| MOD_00749 - HU - Beltsville | 729 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Monitor | Total_Hours | Mean_AQHI | Median_AQHI | Max_AQHI | Hours_High_Risk | Min_AQHI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUB | 712 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Essex | 0 | NaN | NA | -Inf | 0 | Inf |
| Lake_Montebello | 718 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Piney_Run | 462 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| HCNR | 703 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Modulair Time Variation by Location
Cheverly
Turner Station North
Cedar Heights
HCNR
Turner Station South
Annapolis
HU - Beltsville
Regulatory Time Variation by Location
Howard U. (HUB) - Regulatory
Lake Montebello - Regulatory
Piney Run - Regulatory
HCNR - Hybrid Regulatory
| Sensor | 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 | 606 | 129.04 | 97.82 | 737.6559 | 35.54068 | 2.563853 | 9.696255 | 3 | 0.5 | 18 | 3.0 | 606 | 100 |
| D11556 | 732 | 762.00 | 640.38 | 9088.3000 | 108.32500 | 4.844407 | 49.424461 | 395 | 54.0 | 586 | 80.1 | 732 | 100 |
| D11559 | 732 | 466.15 | 368.59 | 2317.2283 | 80.83000 | 1.907264 | 5.905752 | 199 | 27.2 | 421 | 57.5 | 732 | 100 |
| D14645 | 705 | 950.56 | 621.09 | 11722.6350 | 115.14833 | 4.046907 | 29.694941 | 372 | 52.8 | 558 | 79.1 | 705 | 100 |
| D14648 | 664 | 816.54 | 621.85 | 10538.7550 | 97.90167 | 4.715372 | 41.511998 | 346 | 52.1 | 517 | 77.9 | 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
Submit An 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.