
What Does An Air Quality Alert Really Mean?
As you are driving down the busy highway, and see an air quality alert displayed on the electronic signboards, have your every stopped to think about what the alert really means and how it affects you? The EPA calculates the Air Quality Index (AQI) for 5 major pollutants:
Particle (Matter) Pollution (PM) – is a mixture of solid particle and liquid droplets found in the air. Examples are dust, smoke, fumes, or smog found in air or emissions. Particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems, because they can get deep into your lungs, and some may even get into your bloodstream.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) – is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas which is a results from a combustion of fuels. CO is released from automobiles, machinery, kerosene and gas heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, and gas stoves. At low concentrations it can cause fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in those with heart disease. In moderate concentrations it can cause angina, impaired vision, and reduced brain function. At higher concentrations it can cause impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, flu-like symptoms, and can be fatal at very high concentrations.
Sulfur Doxide (SO2) – is a colorless pungent toxic gas formed by burning sulfur in the air. SO2 is primarily emitted from the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and industrial facilities. Short-term exposures to SO2 can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult. Children, the elderly, and those who suffer from asthma are particularly sensitive to effects of SO2.
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) – is a reddish brown poisonous gas used in the manufacture of nitric acid. It is also an air pollutant, a constituent of untreated automobile exhaust. NO2 can irritate the airways in the human respiratory system. The EPA states “ Longer exposures to elevated concentrations of NO2 may contribute to the development of asthma and potentially increase susceptibility to respiratory infections”.
Now that you know about the 5 major pollutants that are monitored by the EPA, how does the Air Quality Index work? To help make it easy for the laymen to understand if air pollution is reaching unhealthy levels nearby, the EPA has divided the AQI into six categories and has assigned a specific color to each.
EPA Air Quality Index :
Not sure where to check your local air quality? You can check on the internet, subscribe to receive air quality notifications via email , and through local and national television, radio, and newspapers.