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Air Quality Index
Local air pollution control districts, newspaper, radio, and TV use the air quality index (AQI) to report daily air pollution levels. The AQI was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It includes the AQI number, air quality description, and health precaution. For instance, the AQI might be 45, air quality reported as good, and no health precautions needed.
The chart below shows the range of index numbers, the air quality values, and the associated health effects
| Index Values |
Air Quality Description
(Color) |
Health Cautionary Statement |
| 0-50 |
Good
(Green) |
No limitations |
| 51 - 100 |
Moderate
(Light Yellow) |
Extremely sensitive children and adults, especially with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should consider limiting outdoor exertion. |
| 101 - 150 |
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
(Orange) |
Sensitive children, adults and especially those with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. |
| 151 - 200 |
Unhealthy
(Red) |
Sensitive children and adults should avoid outdoor exertion and everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during peak ozone periods. |
| 201 - 300 |
Very Unhealthy
(Purple) |
Sensitive children and adults should avoid outdoor activities and remain indoors. Everyone else should avoid outdoor exertion. |
| Over 300 |
Hazardous
(Deep Purple) |
Everyone, especially children, should avoid outdoor activities and remain indoors. |
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