ENVIRONMENT CANADA'S AIR QUALITY HEALTH INDEX

Environment Canada has a new system to keep safe from those exceeding Air Quality Index (AQI's) -- it's the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), provided by Environment Canada. Not many know about this system.

Provided by Environment Canada's AQHI Page, here are some facts:

What is the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)?
The Air Quality Health Index or "AQHI" is a scale designed to help you understand what the air quality around you means to your health.
It is a health protection tool that is designed to help you make decisions to protect your health by limiting short-term exposure to air pollution and adjusting your activity levels during increased levels of air pollution. It also provides advice on how you can improve the quality of the air you breathe.
This index pays particular attention to people who are sensitive to air pollution and provides them with advice on how to protect their health during air quality levels associated with low, moderate, high and very high health risks.
The AQHI communicates four primary things;
A number from 1 and 10+ indicating the quality of the air. The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with the air quality. When the amount of air pollution is very high, the number will be reported as 10+.
A category that describes the level of health risk associated with the index reading (e.g. Low, Moderate, High, or Very High Health Risk).
Health messages customized to each category for both the general population and the ‘at risk’ population.
Current hourly AQHI readings and maximum forecasted values for today, tonight and tomorrow.
The AQHI is designed to give you this information in one place along with some suggestions on how you might adjust your activity levels depending on your individual health risk from air pollution. Follow this guide on how to use the AQHI or learn about the history of the AQHI.

Don't we already have an Air Quality Index (AQI)?
While the Air Quality Index (AQI) has been reported for many years, this new Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) has been created with a different goal - to report on the health risks that are posed by different levels of a mixture of air pollutants.
Read more about how the AQHI and the AQI differ.

How is the AQHI calculated?
The AQHI is calculated based on the relative risks of a combination of common air pollutants which are known to harm human health. These pollutants include:
Ozone (O3) at ground level,
Particulate Matter (PM2.5/PM10) and
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).

What is the scale for the new AQHI?
The AQHI is measured on a scale ranging from 1-10+. The AQHI index values are also grouped into health risk categories as shown below. These categories help you to easily and quickly identify your level of risk.
1-3 Low health risk
4-6 Moderate health risk
7-10 High health risk
10 + Very high health risk
More information on the scale and the AQHI categories.

How can I find out about the air quality in my community?
If you live in the city of Toronto pilot area, visit Toronto AQHI for your local AQHI or Toronto Public Health's Web site at www.toronto.ca/health/aqhi.
Additional pilot locations will be established across Canada in the months to come. Visit our pilot locations Web page to find out about locations near you.
If you reside outside the AQHI Toronto pilot, please contact your local public health office, Ministry of Environment air monitoring branch, or local lung association chapter for available local resources on air quality.

(courtesy of Environment Canada)

Now, in Toronto, let's take a look at the AQHI:

CURRENT: 3 - Low Risk

Monday Night: 6 - Moderate Risk

Tuesday: 7 - High Risk!

Who is at risk?

People with heart and lung conditions are most affected by air pollution.To find out if you are at risk, consult www.cas-aqhi.gc.ca, your physician, or Toronto Public Health at www.toronto.ca/health/aqhi.

Did you know...?

Large, heavy vehicles like SUVs cause nearly twice as much pollution as small, subcompact cars.

That's all for today's AQHI. Remember, this only helps keep Toronto a healthier place to live.

Chris (city.weather@yahoo.ca)