AIRNow - TV Weather - Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution -Air Quality Index (AQI) At-A-Glance Messages

TV Weather - Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution -Air Quality Index (AQI) At-A-Glance Messages

Particle Pollution
Air Quality Index (AQI) At-A-Glance Messages

Use this messaging grid when particles are the primary pollutant of concern - and ozone levels are green or yellow.

AQI color code	Who is affected?	What is the significance?	What action should people take?
Green	-	Air quality is good	Enjoy activities
Yellow	People who are unusually sensitive to air pollution	Air quality is a concern for people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution	People unusually sensitive to air pollution: Plan strenuous activities when air quality is better
Orange	People with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children	Air quality is unhealthy for people in sensitive groups	Sensitive groups: Cut back or reschedule strenuous activities
Red	Everyone, especially people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children	Air quality is unhealthy for everyone	Everyone: Cut back or reschedule strenuous activities Sensitive groups: Avoid strenuous activities
Purple	Everyone, especially people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children	Air quality is very unhealthy for everyone	Everyone: Significantly cut back on physical activities Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activities

Ozone
Air Quality Index (AQI) At-A-Glance Messages

Use this messaging grid when ozone is the primary pollutant of concern - and particle levels are green or yellow.

AQI color code	Who is affected?	What is the significance?	What action should people take?
Green	-	Air quality is good	Enjoy activities
Yellow	People who are unusually sensitive to air pollution	Air quality is a concern for people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution	People unusually sensitive to air pollution: Plan strenuous outside activities when air quality is better
Orange	People with lung disease (including asthma), active adults, and children	Air quality is unhealthy for people in sensitive groups	Sensitive groups: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outside activities
Red	Everyone, especially people with lung disease (including asthma), active adults, and children	Air quality is unhealthy for everyone	Everyone: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outside activities Sensitive groups: Avoid strenuous outside activities
Purple	Everyone, especially people with lung disease (including asthma), active adults, and children	Air quality is very unhealthy for everyone	Everyone: Significantly cut back on outside physical activities Sensitive groups: Avoid all outside physical activities

Ozone and Particle Combinations
Air Quality Index (AQI) At-A-Glance Messages

Use this grid when both pollutants are at unhealthy levels (orange, red, or purple).

Always refer to the message for the higher-level pollutant.

Pollutants and AQI color codes

Who is affected?

What is the significance?

What action should people take?

Ozone and particle pollution: orange/orange

Active adults, people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, and children

Air quality is unhealthy for many people

Sensitive Groups: Cut back or reschedule strenuous activities

Ozone and particle pollution:

red/orange, orange/red, or red/red

Everyone, especially people with heart or lung disease

Air quality is unhealthy for everyone

Everyone:
Avoid strenuous activities

Ozone and particle pollution: purple/orange,
orange/purple,
purple/red,
red/purple, or
purple/purple

Everyone, especially people with heart or lung disease

Air quality is very unhealthy for everyone

Everyone: Avoid physical activities

This page was last updated on Tuesday, November 27, 2007.

AIRNow is a government-backed program. Through AIRNow, EPA, NOAA, NPS, news media, tribal, state, and local agencies work together to report conditions for ozone and particle pollution. State, Local and Tribal Partners.