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Air quality |
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Everyone is unique
The Air Quality Health Index recognizes that air quality affects everyone in different ways. For example, a reading of 5 would have a different meaning to those who have heart or breathing problems than those who don’t. For this reason, the Air Quality Health Index includes recommendations for people at risk as well as for the general population.
Who is at risk?
The Air Quality Health Index provides different health messages for the at-risk and general population. The at-risk group includes children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing heart and breathing problems.
How can using the Air Quality Health Index protect health?
The Air Quality Health Index helps you understand your response to different pollution levels to help you plan and enjoy outdoor physical activities at times when health risks are low. Planning your outdoor physical activity when the Index reading is low can maximize the health benefits of exercise while minimizing exposure to the pollutants that are common in our air.
Regular physical activity has a positive influence on the health of people of all ages. Those who exercise regularly decrease the risk of coronary heart disease, including heart attacks. Lack of regular physical activity is associated with increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity and mental health problems.
As air pollution levels increase, people experience increased risk to health. The degree of risk increases with the intensity of physical exertion because more air is inhaled through the mouth, by-passing the filtration mechanisms in the nose. The increased rate of breathing carries the pollutants deeper into the lungs.
A variety of studies have shown that pollutant levels that are not harmful at rest can be harmful during vigorous exercise, even to healthy individuals. For a healthy adult, for example, one hour of running could result in about three times the intake of pollutants as one hour of walking (slowly). People with heart and lung conditions are most affected by air pollution and should pay special attention to how they react during physical activities and consider the Air Quality Health Index levels.
To reduce the intake of pollutants, you can either reduce the intensity of physical activity or shift activity to a time when pollution levels are lower.
Using the Air Quality Health Index daily
As you use the Air Quality Health Index daily, you will learn how different numbers affect you and what actions you can take to protect yourself. For example, if you like to jog, you may discover that you prefer a stroll in the park when the Air Quality Health Index reaches 7 or higher.
By checking the current and forecasted Air Quality Health Index readings you can benefit from outdoor physical activities while better protecting yourself from air pollution.
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