Air quality index
Air Quality Index (AQI)
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a numerical scale used for reporting daily air quality. It tells how clean or polluted the air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air.
Pronunciation
Air Quality Index: /ɛər kwɒlɪti ɪndɛks/
Etymology
The term "Air Quality Index" is derived from the English language. "Air" comes from the Old English ǣr, "Quality" comes from the Old French qualite, and "Index" comes from the Latin index, meaning 'one that points out'.
Related Terms
- Pollutant Standards Index (PSI)
- Particulate Matter (PM)
- Ozone (O3)
- Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Description
The AQI is calculated for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established national air quality standards to protect public health.
Health Implications
The AQI ranges from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. An AQI value of 100 generally corresponds to the national air quality standard for the pollutant, which is the level EPA has set to protect public health. AQI values below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory.
AQI Colors
The AQI is divided into six categories. Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern and has a specific color. The color makes it easy for people to quickly determine whether air quality is reaching unhealthy levels in their communities.
See Also
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