AQHI Report + Black Carbon
September 16, 2026
Air & Radiation Administration
AQHI Time Series by Location
Annapolis
Cedar Heights
Cheverly
HCNR
HU - Beltsville
Turner Station North
Turner Station South
| 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 | Med_AQHI | Max_AQHI | Hrs_H_Risk | Min_AQHI | Max_AQI | Max_Poll | Hrs_USG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOD-00536 - Cheverly | 727 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 71 | PM2.5 | 0 |
| MOD-00537 - Turner Station North | 727 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 121 | PM2.5 | 2 |
| MOD-00745 - Cedar Heights | 727 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 74 | PM10 | 0 |
| MOD-00746 - HCNR | 727 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 61 | PM10 | 0 |
| MOD-00747 - Turner Station South | 727 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 68 | PM10 | 0 |
| MOD-00748 - Annapolis | 727 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 52 | PM2.5 | 0 |
| MOD-00749 - HU - Beltsville | 727 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 157 | PM10 | 1 |
| Monitor | Total_Hours | Mean_AQHI | Median_AQHI | Max_AQHI | Hours_High_Risk | Min_AQHI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUB | 636 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Essex | 0 | NaN | NA | -Inf | 0 | Inf |
| Lake_Montebello | 704 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Piney_Run | 453 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| HCNR | 671 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Modulair Time Variation by Location
Annapolis
Cedar Heights
Cheverly
HCNR
HU - Beltsville
Turner Station North
Turner Station South
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 | 730 | 88.24 | 67.52 | 737.6559 | 0.00000 | 2.655929 | 11.388263 | 3 | 0.4 | 15 | 2.1 | 586 | 80.3 |
| D11556 | 730 | 731.95 | 519.99 | 9088.3000 | 111.67667 | 4.312168 | 39.507512 | 328 | 44.9 | 537 | 73.6 | 730 | 100.0 |
| D11559 | 730 | 415.27 | 318.26 | 2118.0883 | 61.18333 | 2.124737 | 6.474052 | 144 | 19.7 | 349 | 47.8 | 730 | 100.0 |
| D14645 | 704 | 1004.13 | 641.03 | 7335.1983 | 69.58833 | 2.281369 | 6.999292 | 378 | 53.7 | 554 | 78.7 | 704 | 100.0 |
| D14648 | 639 | 795.75 | 549.42 | 10538.7550 | 97.90167 | 4.553544 | 39.358567 | 301 | 47.1 | 456 | 71.4 | 639 | 100.0 |
Polar Plots by Location
Annapolis
Cedar Heights
Cheverly
HCNR
HU - Beltsville
Turner Station North
Turner Station South
Ratio Polar Plots by Location
Annapolis
PM1 / PM2.5
PM2.5 / PM10
BC / PM2.5
NO2 / NO
Cedar Heights
PM1 / PM2.5
PM2.5 / PM10
BC / PM2.5
NO2 / NO
Cheverly
PM1 / PM2.5
PM2.5 / PM10
BC / PM2.5
NO2 / NO
HCNR
PM1 / PM2.5
PM2.5 / PM10
NO2 / NO
HU - Beltsville
PM1 / PM2.5
PM2.5 / PM10
NO2 / NO
Turner Station North
PM1 / PM2.5
PM2.5 / PM10
BC / PM2.5
NO2 / NO
Turner Station South
PM1 / PM2.5
PM2.5 / PM10
BC / PM2.5
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.