Brochinspring2017EH2000: Air Quality

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Air Quality & Your Health

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It indicates how unhealthy or clean the air is, and helps people understand what local air quality means to their health. The AQI is calculated for four major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: particle pollution, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The AQI is like a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. An AQI value of 100 generally corresponds to the national air quality standard for the pollutant, which is the level EPA has set to protect public health. In general, AQI values that are at or below 100 are thought of as satisfactory. AQI values above 100 are considered to be unhealthy, at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values increase. The AQI is divided into six levels of health concern pictured below:

https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/aqi_brochure_02_14.pdf

Air Quality Conditions Meanings:

Good - Air quality is satisfactory and poses little or no health risk.

Moderate - Air quality is acceptable, but pollution in this range may pose a moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals, especially those who are unusually sensitive to ozone or particle pollution. These people may experience respiratory symptoms.

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, but the general public is not likely to be affected.

Ozone --> People with lung disease, older adults, children, and people who are active outdoors are considered sensitive and therefore at greater risk.

Particle Pollution --> People with lung or heart disease, children, and older adults are considered sensitive and therefore at greater risk.

Unhealthy - Everyone may begin to experience health effects and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

Very Unhealthy - This triggers a health alert which means that everyone may experience more serious health effects.

Hazardous - This triggers health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is even more likely to be affected by serious health affects.

AQI Forecasts

Cincinnati Air Quality Forecast

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 60 - moderate

Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

Tomorrow's High: 65 - moderate

Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

AQI Pollutant Details

Today

Ozone: 40 - good

Particles (PM2.5): 60 - moderate

Tomorrow

Ozone: 45 - good

Particles (PM2.5): 65 - moderate

Cleveland/Akron/Lorain Air Quality Forecast

Forecast is not available, but current conditions are:

Air quality Index

59 - moderate

AQI Pollutant Details

Ozone: 44 - good

Particles (PM2.5): 59 - moderate

Columbus Air Quality Forecast:

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 50 - good

Health message: None

Tomorrow's High: 46 - good

Health message: None

AQI Pollutant Details

Today

Ozone: 39 - good

Particles (PM2.5): 50 - good

Tomorrow

Ozone: 44 - good

Particles (PM2.5): 46 - good

Dayton Air Quality Forecast:

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 53 - moderate

Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

Tomorrow's High: 57 - moderate

Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

AQI Pollutant Details

Today

Ozone: 40 - good

Particles (PM2.5): 53 - moderate

Tomorrow

Ozone: 44 - good

Particles (PM2.5): 57 - moderate

Youngstown Air Quality Forecast:

Air Quality Index

Today's High: 55 - moderate

Health message: Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

Tomorrow's High: 46 - good

Health message: None.

AQI Pollutant Details

Today

Ozone: N/A

Particles (PM2.5): 55 - moderate

Tomorrow

Ozone: N/A

Particles (PM2.5): 46 - good

State Implementation Plan (SIP)

A State Implementation Plan is a collection of regulations and documents used by a territory, state, or local air district to reduce air pollution in areas that do not meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

The Clean Air Act, which was last amended in 1990, requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) (40 CFR part 50) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. There are two types of national ambient air quality standards that are identified by the Clean Air Act:

Primary Standards - These standards provide public health protection, including protecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as children, asthmatics, and the elderly

Secondary Standards - These standards provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased visibility and damage to animals, vegetation, buildings, and crops.

The EPA has set NAAQS for six principal pollutants called "criteria" air pollutants. These pollutants include: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution, and sulfur dioxide.