About the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) 

The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a new public information tool that helps Canadians protect their health on a daily basis from the negative effects of air pollution. This tool has been developed by Health Canada and Environment Canada, in collaboration with the provinces and key health and environment stakeholders.

In British Columbia, the Air Quality Health Index is available to more than 80 per cent of the population.

Please select from the options below to learn more about the Index.

What is the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)?

Don't we already have an Air Quality Index (AQI)?

In which communities is the AQHI available?

How is a community's AQHI calculated?

What is the scale for the new AQHI?

How can I find out about the air quality in my community?

 

 

What is the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)?

The Air Quality Health Index or "AQHI" is a scale designed to help you understand what the air quality around you means to your health. It is a health protection tool that is designed to help you make decisions to protect your health by limiting short-term exposure to air pollution and adjusting your activity levels during increased levels of air pollution. It also provides advice on how you can improve the quality of the air you breathe.

This index pays particular attention to people who are sensitive to air pollution and provides them with advice on how to protect their health during air quality levels associated with low, moderate, high and very high health risks.

The Air Quality Health Index is updated several times a day and communicates four primary things;

1. A number from 1 to 10+ indicating the air quality. The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with the air quality.  When the amount of air pollution is very high, the number will be reported as 10+. 
2. A category that describes the level of health risk associated with the index reading (Low, Moderate, High or Very High Health Risk).
3. Health messages customized to each category for both the general population and "at risk" population.
4. Current hourly AQHI readings and maximum forecasted values for today, tonight and tomorrow.

The Air Quality Health Index is designed to give you this information in one place along with some suggestions on how you might adjust your activity levels depending on your individual health risk from air pollution.  Click here to learn about the history of the AQHI.

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In which communities is the AQHI available?

The AQHI is available throughout Metro Vancouver and Lower Fraser Valley as well as in Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Osoyoos, Prince George, Quesnel, Vernon, Victoria, Western Victoria, Williams Lake and Whistler.

Don't we already have an Air Quality Index (AQI)?
While the Air Quality Index (AQI) has been reported for many years, this new Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) has been created with a different goal - to report on the health risks that are posed by different levels of a mixture of air pollutants.

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For more details about how the AQHI and the AQI differ, click here.

How is a community's AQHI calculated?

The AQHI is calculated based on the relative risks of a combination of common air pollutants which are known to harm human health.  These pollutants include:

• Ozone (O3) at ground level
• Fine Particulate Matter also known as PM2.5 and PM10. These are microscopic solid or liquid particles.
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

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What is the scale for the new AQHI?

The Air Quality Health Index is measured on a scale ranging from 1-10+. The AQHI values are also grouped into health risk categories as shown below. These categories help you to easily and quickly identify your level of risk.

• 1-3 Low health risk
• 4-6 Moderate health risk
• 7-10 High health risk
• 10+ Very high health risk

For more details on the scale and the AQHI categories, click here.

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How can I find out about the air quality in my community?
If you live within or near the the 14 communities of British Columbia covered in this pilot, you will be able to access the Air Quality Health  Index for your area by choosing the monitoring station closest to you. The AQHI is available throughout Metro Vancouver and Lower Fraser Valley as well as in Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Osoyoos, Prince George, Quesnel, Vernon, Victoria, Western Victoria, Whistler and Williams Lake.

If you live elsewhere in BC, please visit the BC Ministry of Environment (see our Contact Information page). 

If you reside outside BC, please visit www.airhealth.ca or contact your local public health office, Ministry of Environment air monitoring branch, or local lung association chapter for available local resources on air quality.

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