ir
pollution can affect our health at any age and at any time of the year.
Any one responsible for the health and safety of other people needs to
be especially aware of air quality. If an air pollution advisory does
occur, people who supervise children, teenagers or the elderly should
take immediate action to reduce any exposure to the unhealthy air.
How Are Pollution Levels Reported?
he
U.S. EPA replaced its Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in 1999 with
its Air Quality Index (AQI) in order to incorporate the new Federal
ozone and PM2.5 standards. The index is designed to provide accurate,
timely and easily understandable information about daily levels of air
pollution. This new index reflects revisions to the primary health-based
national ambient air quality standards for ground-level ozone and particulate
matter issued by U.S. EPA in 1997. satisfactory range.
What Should We Do if There is an Air Pollution
Advisory?
The intervals, color code assignment, and the terms describing the AQI
are as follows:
AQI
Index Values
|
Health Categories
|
Cautionary Statements for 8-Hour Ozone
|
0 to 50
|
Good
|
None |
51 to 100
|
Moderate
|
Unusually sensitive people should consider
limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. |
101 to 150
|
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
|
Active children and adults, and people
with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor
exertion. |
151 to 200
|
Unhealthy
|
Active children and adults, and people with
respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor
exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged
outdoor exertion. |
201 to 300
|
Very Unhealthy
|
Active children and adults, and people
with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor
exertion; everyone else especially children, should limit outdoor
exertion. |
301 to 500
|
Hazardous
|
Everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion. |
Next - What Do Scientists Say...
|
Impact on Health
Our Amazing Lungs
Who's Most at Risk?
What Happens When We Breathe?
The Nitty Gritty on the 6 Most Harmful Pollutants
Air
Pollution Advisories
What the Scientists Say
Impact on Environment
Impact on Economy
|