Publications
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Air Quality Index - A Guide to Air Quality and Your Health This booklet explains EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI) and the health effects of major air pollutants. 02/2014 HTML |PDF (12 pp., 333KB) |
Air Quality Index Reporting; Final Rule This Federal Register notice provides EPA's rationale for the 1999 revisions to the Air Quality Index used by States for daily reporting to the general public in accordance with section 319 of the Clean Air Act. 08/4/1999 PDF (21 pp., 185KB)Fact Sheet: HTML | PDF ( 2 pp., 37KB) |
AQI Forecasts: Your Advance Notification About Unhealthy Air This brochure explains how to use the Air Quality Index, and how high levels of ozone and particle matter can affect your health. Learn where this pollution comes from and what you can do to protect yourself when air quality is poor. 02/2007 HTML | PDF (2 pp, 3MB) |
Air Quality Guide for Nitrogen Dioxide This guide provides you with information about ways to protect your health when nitrogen dioxide levels reach the unhealthy range, and ways you can help reduce nitrogen dioxide air pollution. 02/2011 HTML | PDF ( 2 pp., 281KB) |
(Updated August, 2015) Air Quality Guide for Ozone This guide provides you with information about ways to protect your health when ozone levels reach the unhealthy range, and ways you can help reduce ozone air pollution. 08/2015 HTML | PDF (2 pp., 67KB) |
(Updated August, 2015) Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution This guide provides you with information about ways to protect your health when particle pollution levels reach the unhealthy range, and ways you can help reduce particle air pollution. 08/2015 HTML | PDF (2 pp., 68KB) |
Air Quality and Outdoor Activity Guidance for Schools This guidance can help protect the health of all children, including teenagers, who are more sensitive than adults to air pollution. 08/2014 HTML | PDF (2 pp., 266KB)(Updated May, 2015) Air Quality Flag Program Fact Sheet This fact sheet describes how the Air Quality Flag Program uses colored flags to represent daily air quality conditions. 05/2015 PDF (1 p., 170KB) |
Technical Assistance Document for the Reporting of Daily Air Quality This guidance is designed to aid local agencies in reporting the air quality using the AQI as required in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). For more information contact David Mintz at (mintz.david@epa.gov) 05/2016 PDF (23 pp., 690KB) |
Why is Coco Orange? Coco the chameleon can’t change colors, and his asthma is acting up. Read how Coco and his friends at Lizard Lick Elementary solve this mystery as they learn about air quality and how to stay healthy when the air quality is bad. This picture book was produced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for all children, especially those with asthma, and their caretakers. 05/2010 HTML | PDF (19 pp., 1.7MB) |
Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution fact sheet This fact sheet is designed to answer questions about how people with asthma can be affected by air pollution and how they can use the Air Quality Index to reduce their exposure. 2004 PDF (2 pp.,502KB) |
Effects of Common Air Pollutants Medical Poster
This colorful poster is designed for use in patient waiting areas or exam rooms. Use this poster to educate your patients about the health effects of outdoor air pollution on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. 11/2011 PDF (1 p., 8MB) | PDF 18"x24" Printable Version (1 p., 888KB) |
(Updated January, 2016) Heart Disease, Stroke, and Outdoor Air Pollution
The purpose of this fact sheet is to increase awareness that air pollution can trigger heart attacks, stroke, and other health effects. It also provides information about steps to take to protect your health – including using the Air Quality Index to reduce exposure. It includes information about risk factors for heart disease and stroke, and lists the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. 1/2016 HTML | PDF (2 pp., 439KB) |
How Smoke from Fires Can Affect Your Health
It's important to limit your exposure to smoke -- especially if you may be susceptible. This publication provides steps you can take to protect your health. 5/2003 HTML | PDF (2 pp., 445KB) |
Ozone and Your Health
Ozone, the main ingredient of smog, presents a serious air quality problem in many parts of the United States. Even at low levels, ozone can cause health effects. You can take simple steps, described in this pamphlet, to protect your health from ozone. 02/2009 HTML | PDF (2 pp., 186 KB)Particle Pollution and Your Health This short, colorful pamphlet tells who is at risk from exposure to particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), what health effects may be caused by particles, and simple measures that can be taken to reduce health risk. 09/01/2003 HTMLPDF (2 pp., 320KB) | b&w PDF (2 pp.,195KB) |
Smog - Who Does it Hurt?
This 8-page booklet provides more detailed information than "Ozone and Your Health" about ozone health effects and how to avoid them. Updated 2014 HTML1999 PDF (10 pp., 274KB) |
Focus Group Report
Report of Eight Focus Groups on the Ozone Map, the Pollutant Standards Sub-Index for Ozone, and the Ozone Health Effects Booklet. This report was used to develop the 1999 revision to the Air Quality Index. 11/19/1998 PDF (162 pp., 518KB) |
Guidelines for Developing an Air Quality (Ozone and PM2.5) Forecasting Program
This report provides technical guidance to help air quality agencies develop, operate, and evaluate ozone and PM2.5 forecasting programs. This document provides: 1) Background information about ozone and PM2.5 and the weather's effect on these pollutants; 2) A list of how air quality forecasts are currently used; 3) A summary and evaluation of methods currently used to forecast ozone and PM2.5; 4) Steps to develop and operate an air quality forecasting program and 5) Information on the level of effort needed to set up and operate a forecasting program. The intended audience of this document is project managers, meteorologists, air quality analysts, and data analysts. 08/15/2003 PDF (126 pp, 1.47MB) |
Ozone Good Up High, Bad Nearby
Ozone acts as a protective layer high above the earth, but it can be harmful to breathe. This publication provides basic information about ground-level and high-altitude ozone. Updated 2014 HTML2003 PDF (2 pp., 1.4MB) |
How To Order EPA Publications |
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You can order these publications directly via EPA's National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) web site. Your publication requests can also be mailed, called or faxed directly to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) P.O. Box 42419 Cincinnati, Ohio 45242-0419 Phone (800) 490- 9198 Fax (301) 604-3408 Please use the EPA Document Number, which is usually bolded or highlighted, when ordering from NSCEP. |