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
|
|