Air Quality Index AQI Susan Lyon Stone stone

Air Quality Index (AQI) Susan Lyon Stone stone. susan@epa. gov

Overview u About the AQI u EPA outreach u Major media outreach u Future directions

EPA’s AQI u Clean Air Act – develop nationally uniform index and regulate reporting § “Unhealthy” for ozone means same in Lima, OH as Los Angeles, CA u Includes pollutants with national ambient air quality standards § O 3, PM, CO, SO 2, NO 2 u Based on health effects information from review of standards

State/local Agency’s AQI u Monitor ambient air u Report AQI u Usefulness of AQI linked to implementation § Continuous monitoring (e. g. , PM 2. 5) § Forecasting and real-time data reporting § Participating in AIRNOW

1999 - AQI Revised u To represent health information from review of standards § Non-threshold nature of effects § Sub-indices for PM 2. 5 and O 3 (8 -hr average) u For use in contemporary media § Real-time data reporting § User-friendly format (e. g. , colors, language)

AQI Pollutant-Specific u Pollutant-specific statements § Health effects statements § Cautionary statements § Sensitive group statements

AQI Easy to Understand u Format intuitively clear § Category descriptors § Colors § Statements u Focus group testing § General public – 5 cities § Target audiences – 3 cities

AQI Focus Groups Parents – asthmatic children Journalists Elderly – chronic lung disease

Descriptor Index Value Risk Message Good 0 - 50 No message Moderate 51 - 100 Unusually sensitive individuals (ozone) Unhealthy for 101 - 150 Sensitive Groups Identifiable groups at risk – different groups for different pollutants Unhealthy 151 - 200 General public at risk; groups at greater risk Very Unhealthy 201 - 300 General public at greater risk; groups at greatest risk

Ozone Levels

http: //www. epa. gov/airnow

Air Quality Forecast

Air Quality Guide - Ozone

Ozone and Your Health

Smog - Who Does It Hurt?

Health Care Providers u “Ozone and Your Patients’ Health” video § CME credit UNC School of Medicine § http: //med. unc. edu/cme u Air pollution health effects poster § Focus on O 3, PM and AQI § Ready Fall 2001

The Weather Channel

USA Today

Future Directions u PM air pollution § Public information documents § Real-time data - AIRNOW § Health care providers – Web-based instructional unit u Communicate appropriately in fire situations u Evaluate research

Boston March 8, 2001 7: 30 AM Boston March 8, 2001 11: 30 AM