Accounting for Pollution in your Community with Air Quality Indexes (AQIs)
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a widely used way to make annual and real time pollution data transparent, comparative, and understandable between cities. AQIs use scientific evidence to provide insight and recommendations on the relative safety of the outdoor air in an area based on the levels of some assortment of:
particulate matter (PM)
PM2.5
PM10
ozone (O3)
nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
sulphur dioxide (SO2).
Carbon monoxide (CO)
There is more than one AQI because the pollutants collected, scales used, laws and policies framing, and additional information desired varies globally.
For instance, the US AQI has 6 levels using a scale from 0 to 500. The index includes five main pollutants which are regulated by the Clean Air Act: O3, PM10, CO, SO2, and NO2. In addition to the numerical index, the AQI provides information about the health effects related to the measured concentration.
Each EU country has its own AQI, so the Common AIR Quality Index (CAQI) was introduced as a way of bringing the data together. This index has a five-step scale [from very low (0/25) to very high (>100)] of air pollution and is based on three major pollutants: NO2, O3 and PM10. The index can be expanded by three additional pollutants: SO2, CO, PM2.5.
Other countries have their own versions with similar goals of being guidance for the general public on how to plan their days and limit exposure to harmful ambient pollutants.
Just because the data shows relatively low levels, don’t assume that you’re safe from the effects.
Everyone's body is different so it’s best to observe how you personally react to high level situations.
Groups such as children, the elderly, those with pre-existing breathing difficulties such as asthma, those with lung and heart diseases.
