Ozone Forecast

The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you.

The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health.

Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country.

When the AQI is:	air quality conditions are:	meaning:
0-50	Good	Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
51-100	Moderate	Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.
101-150	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Although general public is not likely to be affected at this AQI range, people with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air.
151 to 200	Unhealthy	Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects, and members of the sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
201 to 300	Very Unhealthy	This would trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects.
301 to 500	Hazardous	This would trigger a health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

Source: U.S. Department of Environmental Protection