Breathing Easy: A Guide to Air Quality
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized system used to communicate how polluted the air is. Think of it as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.
Decoding the AQI Scale
- 0 - 50 (Good): Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- 51 - 100 (Moderate): Acceptable for most, but sensitive people (asthma) should watch out.
- 101 - 150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive): Children, the elderly, and those with lung disease are at risk.
- 150+ (Unhealthy/Hazardous): Everyone may begin to experience health effects. Avoid outdoor exertion.
The Cigarette Analogy
This dashboard uses a rule of thumb popularized by researchers at Berkeley Earth to visualize the danger of PM2.5 (fine particulate matter). They estimate that breathing air with a PM2.5 concentration of 22 µg/m³ for 24 hours is roughly equivalent to the health damage caused by smoking one cigarette.
Note: This is a rough equivalence for communication purposes, meant to highlight the long-term cardiovascular risks of pollution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PM2.5 and why is it dangerous? ▼
PM2.5 refers to particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers—about 3% the diameter of a human hair. Because they are so small, they can bypass your nose's filtration, travel deep into your lungs, and even enter your bloodstream, causing heart and lung disease.
Should I exercise outside when AQI is high? ▼
Generally, no. When you exercise, you breathe deeper and faster, inhaling more pollutants. If the AQI is above 100 (Orange), consider moving your workout indoors or finding a park away from busy roads.