Isn’t it time you get to know it?
The average person takes about 20,000 breaths a day, amounting to 10,000 litres of air passing through our lungs every single day.
Now there is a way to know how all that air affects our health and quality of life. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a new public health tool that reports local air quality conditions and the health risks related to these conditions.
The Index uses a scale from one to 10 and provides accompany health messages for groups who are at risk to respiratory conditions and to the general public. The higher the number is on the Index, the higher the health risk.
“The AQHI is a proactive health tool that provides people easy access to their local air quality conditions throughout the day,” says Dr. Paul Hasselback, a medical health officer for the Interior Health Authority in BC.
The Index was developed by health and environment professionals from across Canada and is reported on Environment Canada’s WeatherOffice website (airhealth.ca) as well as on the Weather Network as part of its local weather programming. In BC, the AQHI is available to more than 80 per cent of the population and can be found at www.airhealthbc.ca
You can also find the Index reported in major newspapers on a daily basis such as the Vancouver Sun and Province
While we enjoy relatively good air quality conditions in the province of BC, increased air pollution in certain areas during different times of the year and under different weather conditions can affect us. It can have negative affects on our respiratory and cardiovascular systems making it harder to breathe or triggering episodes of asthma.
Everyone reacts differently to air pollution, but children, the elderly and those with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions can be more sensitive to poor air quality. Even if you are not considered at risk, you could still experience symptoms during times of poor air quality.
When the AQHI is low – in the 1 to 3 range – everyone is encouraged to enjoy their daily outdoor activities. However, if the scale moves into the moderate range – between 4 and 6 – people with respiratory or heart conditions may want to consider modifying or holding off on their planned outdoor activities until the air quality improves.
The Index measures the combined affects of three common air pollutants – Ozone, Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) and Nitrogen Dioxide.
Visit www.airhealthbc.ca often and use the Air Quality Health Index to make decisions regarding your daily outdoor activity levels. If you have concerns about the effects of air pollution on your health, consult your health care provider.