Air quality index

<p>An air quality index (AQI) is an indicator developed by government agencies to communicate to the public how <a href="/facts/Air_pollution/zmk9Dy7S">polluted</a> the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. As air pollution levels rise, so does the AQI, along with the associated public health risk. Children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular problems are typically the first groups affected by poor air quality.  When the AQI is high, governmental bodies generally encourage people to reduce physical activity outdoors, or even avoid going out altogether. When <a href="/facts/Wildfire/LU3797A0">wildfires</a> result in a high AQI, the use of a mask (such as an <a href="/facts/N95_respirator/bGgNSnNF">N95 respirator</a>) outdoors and an air purifier (incorporating both <a href="/facts/HEPA_filter/RTWmW8aE">HEPA</a> and <a href="/facts/Activated_carbon/YAbaXCcb">activated carbon</a> filters) indoors are also encouraged.
</p><p>Different countries have their own air quality indices, corresponding to different national air quality standards. Some of these are Canada's <a href="/facts/Air_Quality_Health_Index_(Canada)/Ygj6TFot">Air Quality Health Index</a>, Malaysia's <a href="/facts/Air_Pollution_Index/Cw4SSvYC">Air Pollution Index</a>, and Singapore's <a href="/facts/Pollutant_Standards_Index/6dy0Uccx">Pollutant Standards Index</a>.
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Air quality index open-in-new

Air quality index