An air quality measurement station in Edinburgh, Scotland

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized indicator of the air quality in a given location. It measures mainly ground-level ozone and particulates (except the pollen count), but may also include sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Various agencies around the world measure such indices, though definitions may change between places. Air pollution Pollution is the introduction of pollutants (whether chemical substances, or energy such as noise, heat, or light) into the environment to such a point that its effects become harmful to human health, other living organisms, or the environment. ... Air pollution is the modification of the natural characteristics of the atmosphere by a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent. ... The term acid rain is commonly used to mean the deposition of acidic components in rain, snow, fog, dew, or dry particles. ... Atmospheric dispersion modeling is performed with computer programs that use mathematical equations and algorithms to simulate how pollutants in the ambient atmosphere disperse in the atmosphere. ... Tetrafluoroethane (a haloalkane) is a clear liquid which boils well below room temperature (as seen here) and can be extracted from common canned air canisters by simply inverting them during use. ... Global dimming is the gradual reduction in the amount of global direct irradiance at the Earths surface that was observed for several decades after the start of systematic measurements in 1950s. ... Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earths near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation. ... Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other pollutant particles obscure the normal clarity of the sky. ... Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants. ... Global monthly average total ozone amount Ozone depletion describes two distinct, but related observations: a slow, steady decline of about 4 percent per decade in the total amount of ozone in Earths stratosphere since the late 1970s; and a much larger, but seasonal, decrease in stratospheric ozone over Earth... Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM), aerosols or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. ... For other uses, see Smog (disambiguation). ... Raw sewage and industrial waste flows into the U.S. from Mexico as the New River passes from Mexicali, Baja California to Calexico, California Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and... Eutrophication, strictly speaking, means an increase in chemical nutrients -- typically compounds containing nitrogen or phosphorus -- in an ecosystem. ... It has been suggested that Anoxic sea water, Oxygen minimum zone, and Hypoxic zone be merged into this article or section. ... Pumping of highly toxic (dark black) sludge, much seeps back into the ocean in the form of particles. ... Change in sea surface pH caused by anthropogenic CO2 between the 1700s and the 1990s Ocean acidification is the name given to the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earths oceans, caused by their uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. ... A beach after an oil spill An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment due to human activity, and is a form of pollution. ... Ship pollution is the pollution of water by shipping! It is a problem that has been accelerating as trade has become increasingly globalized. ... Runoff flowing into a stormwater drain Surface runoff is water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface, and is a major component of the water cycle[1][2]. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called overland flow. ... Thermal pollution is a temperature change in natural water bodies caused by human influence. ... Wastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. ... Waterborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms which are directly transmitted when contaminated drinking water is consumed. ... Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water, characterized through the methods of hydrometry. ... Standing water redirects here. ... Excavation of leaking underground storage tank causing soil contamination Soil pollution comprises the pollution of soils with materials, mostly chemicals, that are out of place or are present at concentrations higher than normal which may have adverse effects on humans or other organisms. ... Bioremediation can be defined as any process that uses microorganisms, fungi, green plants or their enzymes to return the environment altered by contaminants to its original condition. ... An herbicide is used to kill unwanted plants. ... A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used for preventing, controlling, or lessening the damage caused by a pest. ... The radiation warning symbol (trefoil). ... This article about actinides in the environment is about the sources, environmental behaviour and effects of actinides in the environment. ... The environmental radioactivity page is devoted to the subject of radioactive materials in man and his environment. ... Fission products are the atomic fragments left after a large nucleus fissions. ... Fallout is the residual radiation hazard from a nuclear explosion, so named because it falls out of the atmosphere into which it is spread during the explosion. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Radiation poisoning, also called radiation sickness or a creeping dose, is a form of damage to organ tissue due to excessive exposure to ionizing radiation. ... // Radium Radium in quack medicine See the story of Eben Byers for details of one very nasty case which involved a product called Radithor this contained 1 mCi of 226Ra and 1 mCi of 228Ra per bottle. ... Uranium in the environment, this page is devoted to the science of uranium in the environment and in animals (including humans). ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ... This time exposure photo of New York City shows sky glow, one form of light pollution. ... Noise pollution (or environmental noise in technical venues) is displeasing human or machine created sound that disrupts the environment. ... Radio spectrum pollution is the straying of waves in the radio and electromagnetic spectrums outside their allocations that cause problems for some activities. ... Visual pollution is the term given to unattractive visual elements of a vista, a landscape, or any other thing that a person might want to look at. ... The largest Antarctic ozone hole recorded as of September 2006 For other similarly-named agreements, see Montreal Convention (disambiguation). ... Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes, opened for signature on 31 October 1988 and entered into force on 14 February 1991, was to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and... The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change. ... note - abbreviated as Air Pollution opened for signature - 13 November 1979 entered into force - 16 March 1983 objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution parties - (48) Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria... This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in England. ... EPA redirects here. ... Global Atmosphere Watchs logo The Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) is a worldwide system established by the World Meteorological Organization – a United Nations agency – to monitor trends in the Earths atmosphere. ... Greenpeace protest against Esso / Exxon Mobil. ... The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that apply for outdoor air throughout the country. ... Environmental science is the study of the interactions among the physical, chemical and biological components of the environment; with a focus on pollution and degradation of the environment related to human activities; and the impact on biodiversity and sustainability from local and global development. ... This article is about the natural environment. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2208 KB) station for measuring air quality in Edinburgh, Scotland Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Air Quality Index Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2208 KB) station for measuring air quality in Edinburgh, Scotland Copyright © 2005 David Monniaux File links The following pages link to this file: Air Quality Index Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... “Standard” redirects here. ... Look up air in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For the Talib Kweli album Quality (album) Quality can refer to a. ... Ozone (O3) in the troposphere, is a pollutant, a constituent of smog. ... Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM), aerosols or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. ... Pollen count is the measurement of the number of grains of pollen in a cubic meter of air. ... Sulfur dioxide (or Sulphur dioxide) has the chemical formula SO2. ... [1] R-phrases , S-phrases , , , , , Supplementary data page Structure and properties n, εr, etc. ...

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) differ on what AQI structure and health classification is used: EPA redirects here. ... The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) is a Canadian government agency which provides meteorological information. ...

Health classifications used by the EPA:

•   0-50  Good is usually green
•  51-100 Moderate is usually yellow
• 101-150 Unhealthy for sensitive groups is usually orange
• 151-200 Unhealthy is usually red
• 201-300 Very unhealthy is usually purple
• 301-500 Hazardous is usually maroon

The EPA's AQI 100 corresponds to 0.08 ppm ozone, and to other levels for other pollutants. Source: EPA

The AQI standards in Canada are relatively more stringent. The current health classifications used by the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) are as follows: The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) is a Canadian government agency which provides meteorological information. ...

• 0-25*: Good (green)
• 26*-50: Fair (yellow)
• 51-100: Poor (orange)
• 101+: Very poor (red)

In Ontario, 31 is the upper limit for good and 32 the lower limit for moderate. Zero to 15 is classified as very good, and is given the color blue. This article is about the Canadian province. ...

In June 2007, the EPA proposed a slight possible tightening of the pollution standards associated with smog after an independent EPA scientific board said that the standard “needs to be substantially reduced” and that there is “no scientific justification” for retaining the current, weaker standard. ^[1]

In light of the new scientific findings, one should expect adjustments in the AQI such that pollution currently denoted as "moderate" will in the future be recognized as "unhealthy."

The AQI can worsen (go up) due to lack of dilution with fresh air. Stagnant air, often caused by an anticyclone or temperature inversion, or other lack of winds lets air pollution remain in a local area. On these days, the news media may ask the public to carpool or use public transport, or take other air pollution prevention measures such as teleworking. In meteorology, an anticyclone (that is, opposite to a cyclone) is a weather phenomenon in which there is a descending movement of the air and a high pressure area over the part of the planets surface affected by it. ... Smoke rising in Lochcarron is stopped by an overlying layer of warmer air. ... For other uses, see Wind (disambiguation). ... Air pollution is the modification of the natural characteristics of the atmosphere by a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent. ... News media satellite up-link trucks and photojournalists gathered outside the Prudential Financial headquarters in Newark, New Jersey in August, 2004 following the announcement of evidence of a terrorist threat to it and to buildings in New York City. ... General public redirects here. ... For the 1996 film, see Carpool (film). ... Mass transit redirects here. ... Telework (known in the USA as Telecommuting) (also e-work) is work performed from a distance, typically over a network such as the Internet, as opposed to work performed directly on site. ...

Other Indices

Hong Kong

Main article: Air Pollution Index

The Air Pollution Index (API) levels for Hong Kong are related to the measured concentrations of ambient respirable suspended particulate (RSP), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) over a 24-hour period based on the potential health effects of air pollutants. An air quality measurement station in Edinburgh, Scotland The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized index of the air quality in a given location, given in parts per billion. ...

An API level at or below 100 means that the pollutant levels are in the satisfactory range over 24 hour period and pose no acute or immediate health effects. However, air pollution consistently at "High" levels (API of 51 to 100) in a year may mean that the annual Hong Kong "Air Quality Objectives" for protecting long-term health effects could be violated. Therefore, chronic health effects may be observed if one is persistently exposed to an API of 51 to 100 for a long time.

"Very High" levels (API in excess of 100) means that levels of one or more pollutant(s) is/are in the unhealthy range. The Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department provides advice to the public regarding precautionary actions to take for such levels.

Malaysia

Main article: Air Pollution Index

The air quality in Malaysia is reported as the API or Air Pollution Index. Four of the index's pollutant components (i.e., carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide) are reported in ppmv but PM₁₀ particulate matter is reported in μg/m³. An air quality measurement station in Edinburgh, Scotland The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized index of the air quality in a given location, given in parts per billion. ... Parts-per notation is a measure of concentration that is used where low levels of concentration are significant. ... Particulates, alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM), aerosols or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas. ...

Unlike the American AQI, the index number can exceed 500. Above 500, a state of emergency is declared in the reporting area. Usually, this means that non-essential government services are suspended, and all ports in the affected area closed. There may also be a prohibition on private sector commercial and industrial activities in the reporting area excluding the food sector. For other uses, see State of emergency (disambiguation). ...

For more information on the API reading please go here http://www.doe.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=188&Itemid=370&lang=en

Singapore

Singapore uses the Pollutant Standards Index to report on its air quality. [1] The Pollutant Standards Index, or PSI, provides a uniform system of measuring pollution levels for the major air pollutants. ...

United Kingdom

The Met Office of the United Kingdom (UK) issues air quality forecasts wherein the level of pollution is described either as an index (ranging from 1 to 10) or as a banding (low, moderate, high or very high). These levels are based on the health effects of each pollutant. The Met Office (originally an abbreviation for Meteorological Office, but now the official name in itself), which has its headquarters at Exeter in Devon, is the United Kingdoms national weather service. ...

The forecast is produced for a number of different pollutants and their typical health effects are shown in the following table.

United States

The United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) developed the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) to provide accurate, timely and easily understandable information about daily levels of air pollution. The Pollutant Standards Index, or PSI, provides a uniform system of measuring pollution levels for the major air pollutants. ...

It is no longer in use, having been replaced by the AQI, which is more sensitive. For example, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) is a sub index, replacing the less sensitive PM10 component of the PSI. A micrometre (American spelling: micrometer, symbol µm) is an SI unit of length equal to one millionth of a metre, or about a tenth of the diameter of a droplet of mist or fog. ...

Notes

In the context of this article about air quality:

• ppmv = parts per million by volume = volume of pollutant gas per million volumes of ambient air
• PM₁₀ = particulate matter smaller than 10 μm in diameter
• μg/m³ = micrograms per cubic metre of ambient air
• μm = micrometre

The air quality in the United States has improved dramatically over 23 years.

Air quality by country or region

• British Columbia
• Hong Kong

Air pollution is a concern to citizens, governments, industry and First Nations in British Columbia (BC), Canada because of its effects on health and visibility. ...

See also

• Air pollution
• Air Pollution Index
• Atmospheric dispersion modeling
• Barbecue
• Grilling
• Emission standard
• European emission standards
• Haze
• Indoor air quality
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards - U.S. standards for EPA intervention
• Pollutant Standards Index
• Smog

Air pollution is the modification of the natural characteristics of the atmosphere by a chemical, particulate matter, or biological agent. ... An air quality measurement station in Edinburgh, Scotland The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a standardized index of the air quality in a given location, given in parts per billion. ... Atmospheric dispersion modeling is performed with computer programs that use mathematical equations and algorithms to simulate how pollutants in the ambient atmosphere disperse in the atmosphere. ... A barbecue on a trailer at a block party in Kansas City. ... Food cooking on a charcoal grill Grilling is a form of cooking that involves direct heat. ... Emission standards are requirements that set specific limits to the amount of pollutants that can be released into the environment. ... Simplified chart showing the progression of European emission standards for Diesel cars. ... Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other pollutant particles obscure the normal clarity of the sky. ... Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants. ... The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that apply for outdoor air throughout the country. ... The Pollutant Standards Index, or PSI, provides a uniform system of measuring pollution levels for the major air pollutants. ... For other uses, see Smog (disambiguation). ...

References

External links

• AQI at airnow.gov - cross-agency U.S. Government site
• New Mexico Air Quality and API data - Example of how New Mexico Environment Department publishes their Air Quality and API data.
• AQI at Meteorological Service of Canada
• The pollution index of the UK Met Office
• API at JAS (Malaysian Department of Environment)
• API at Hong Kong - Environmental Protection Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
• San Francisco Bay Area Spare-the-Air - AQI explanation
• Malaysia Air Pollution Index
• AQI in Thailand provinces and in Bangkok