![]() Whenever the 24-hour PM2.5 average exceeds the Objective, that typically indicates poor air quality.Īir Quality Objectives (AQOs) are limits on the acceptable level of contaminants in the air, established by government agencies to protect human health and the environment. To gauge air quality, 24-hour PM2.5 averages are compared to the provincial Air Quality Objective of 25 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter of air). A daily average is also calculated based on PM2.5 concentrations over 24 hours, midnight-to-midnight, for any given day. A 24-hour running average is obtained every hour as the average PM2.5 concentration over the previous 24 hours, which is used for air quality advisories. The one-hour averages provide valuable information on rapid changes in PM2.5 levels and are essentially used to calculate the AQHI.īased on the available one-hour averages, 24-hour averages of PM2.5 concentrations are then determined in two ways. ![]() provides advice on minimizing the health risk from air pollutionĪir Quality Health Index and wildfire smoke frequently asked questions (FAQ)Įvery hour, air monitoring stations typically report hourly averages of PM2.5 concentrations.provides the predicted air-quality health risk over the next 36 hours.labels the health risk as low, moderate, high or very high.illustrates the level of health risk with a number and colour scale of 1 to 10 or higher.In British Columbia, the Air Quality Health Index is available to more than 80 percent of the population in 25 communities, throughout Metro Vancouver and the Lower Fraser Valley, as well as in Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Vernon, and Victoria ( view the full list in the left hand navigation). This method differs from the older Air Quality Index (AQI), which determined air quality based on the highest value of only one pollutant.īritish Columbians can use the AQHI to check the quality of outdoor air before heading off to work or play. The rating for the AQHI is based on the combination of the health risks from each of the pollutants in the index. The AQHI reports on the health risks posed by a mixture of pollutants, including: The entire population is more likely to be affected.Īctive children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) provides hourly air quality readings and related health messages. The general public is not likely to be affected.Įveryone may begin to experience health effects members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effectsĪctive 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 ![]() Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no riskĪir quality is acceptable however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.Īctive children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. ![]()
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