Air Quality Index

Air Quality Index

1. Is

   • An index that tells how clean or unhealthy the air is, and the associated health effects on the population.
     • Air pollutans
       • Ozone
         • A gas found in the air we breathe.
           • Good ozone
             • Present in the Earth’s upper atmosphere; 6 to 30 miles above the Earth’s surface.
               • Shields us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
           • Bad ozone
             • Forms near the ground when pollutants react chemically in sunlight.
         • Heat and sunlight increase ozone formation.
           • Risks
             • When active outdoors
               • Ozone affects the lungs and respiratory system.
       • Particle Pollution
         • Mixture of solids and liquid droplets.
           • Fine particles
             • Small particles. Major sources : motor vehicles, wood burning, industrial and combustion processes.
           • Coarse particles
             • Sources: crushing or grinding operations, and dust stirred up by vehicles traveling on roads.
         • Health effects for people with heart and lung diseases
           • Chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue, respiratory infections, etc.
       • CO
         • Odorless, colorless gas. It forms when the carbon in fuels does not completely burn.
           • Health effects
             • It reduces the amount of oxygen reaching the body’s organs and tissues.
         • Highest during cold weather
       • SO2
         • A colorless, reactive gas, is produced when sulfur-containing fuels such as coal and oil are burned.
           • Found near large industrial complexes.
           • Health effects
             • Irritant gas that is removed by the nasal passages.
               • "Yo, Mariana Abarca declaro que he realizado esta Tarea 13 - Contaminación del aire con estricto apego al Código de Honor de la UDEM"
             • Respiratory symptoms and illness, and aggravate asthma.

2. Levels of health concern

   • 0-50 Good
     • Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk.
   • 51-100 Moderated
     • Air quality is acceptable. this range may pose a moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals.
   • 151- 200 Unhealthy
     • Sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
   • 101-150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
     • Sensitive groups may experience health effects.
   • 201- 300 Very Unhealthy
     • Everyone may experience more serious health effects.
   • 301- 500 Hazardous
     • The entire population is even more likely to be affected by serious health effects.

3. Measured using standard formulas developed by Environmental Protection Agency.

   • Found in
     • Internet
     • Local media
     • E-mail

4. Avoid

   • Prolonged exertion
     • Outdoor activity that makes you breathe slightly harder than normal.
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   • Heavy exertion
     • Intense outdoor activities that cause you to breathe hard.