Frequently, you will hear meteorologists mention the air quality index (AQI) during the weather report. The AQI is a tool used to express the local air quality on a daily basis and help you determine if there are any health risks.

The AQI is expressed on a scale from 0 to 500; higher scores indicate greater levels of air pollution and health concerns. There are six AQI categories, ranging from “good” to “hazardous” and each level has a color associated with it to make it easy for people to quickly assess the AQI. Be cautious if the AQI is “code orange” or “code red”.

Some groups, such as children, older adults, and people with lung or heart related diseases are more sensitive to poor air quality, so they need to take extra precautions, such as:

• Check the AQI in your area at www.airnow.gov.
• Avoid prolonged periods or heavy outdoor activity

You can also take steps to improve the air quality index this summer, by:

• Refueling your car after dusk
• Limiting engine idling
• Avoiding using gas powered lawn equipment
• Conserving electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature
• Combining trips or using public transportation

Find more ways you can improve the air quality this summer.

Map from Airnow.gov shows today’s air quality for the country.

Each day, the Environmental Protection Agency measures five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Based on these measurements, air quality around the country is graded on a scale from 0-500 called the Air Quality Index (AQI). The lower the AQI number, the safer the air is to breathe. As the number gets higher, breathing the air could lead to health problems, especially if you have asthma or other respiratory illness.

The above map shows today’s air quality forecast based on AQI values across the country.

Find the daily air quality for where you live and learn more about precautions you can take if the air quality is poor.