Air Quality Health Index
Levels of Risk

Value

 Accompanying Health Messages for
At Risk Populations and the General Population

 At Risk Population

 General Population

Low Health Risk

1 – 3

Enjoy your usual outdoor activities.

Follow your doctor’s advice for exercise.

Ideal conditions for outdoor activities.

Moderate Health Risk

4 – 6

If you have heart or breathing problems, and experience symptoms, consider reducing physical exertion outdoors or rescheduling activities to times when the index is lower.
Follow your doctor’s usual advice about managing your condition. 

No need to modify your usual outdoor activities, unless you experience symptoms.

High Health Risk

7-10

Children, the elderly and people with heart or breathing problems should reduce physical exertion outdoors or reschedule activities to times when the index is lower, especially if they experience symptoms. 

If you have heart or breathing problems, follow your doctor’s usual advice about managing your condition.

Anyone experiencing discomfort such as coughing or throat irritation should consider reducing physical exertion outdoors or rescheduling strenuous activities to periods when the index is lower.

Very High Health Risk

Above
10

Children, the elderly and people with heart or breathing problems should avoid physical exertion outdoors.

If you have heart or breathing problems, follow your doctor’s usual advice about managing your condition.

Everyone should consider reduce physical exertion outdoors or reschedule strenuous activities to times when the index is lower, especially if they experience symptoms.

Index Reading
1 to 3

Did you know?

• People with breathing or heart problems should always pay attention to symptoms, even at low index levels.
• Riding your bike, walking or rollerblading to work is healthy for you and keeps the air clean.
• A full bus takes 40 to 60 cars off the road.

Index Reading
4 to 6

Did you know?

• Air pollution can affect your health now and many years from now.
• Air pollution comes from both local sources (e.g. vehicles, industry, wood smoke) and from far away, carried over hundreds of kilometres.
• Children inhale more pollution per kilogram of body weight than adults.
• A full bus takes 40 to 60 cars off the road.
• Even moderate levels of air pollution can have a negative effect on the health of vulnerable people, such those with cardio-respiratory problems.
• People with heart or breathing problems should monitor symptoms as the index reading increases.
• You can reduce your risk from air pollution by lessening the intensity of your exercise, for example, walking instead of jogging, as well as taking more breaks.
• You will breathe in less traffic related pollution by planning routine physical activity, such as running or jogging, away from high traffic areas.
• If you are spending more time indoors, look for an air conditioned, smoke-free environment.

Index Reading
7 to 10

Did you know?

• Some types of air pollution can reach high levels even in parks and rural areas. 
• You cannot always see or smell air pollution which is harmful to your health.
• According to recent research, diabetics may be at an increased risk from air pollution.
• Even healthy people may have more difficulty breathing on days when the index is high.
• Air pollution affects everyone’s health in different ways, ranging from minor symptoms, such as throat irritation, to worsening of breathing and heart problems. Negative health effects will increase as air pollution increases.
• You can reduce your risk from air pollution by lessening the intensity of your exercise, for example walking instead of jogging, as well as taking more breaks.
• You will breathe in less traffic related pollution by planning routine physical activity, such as running or jogging, away from high traffic areas.
• People participating in sports or strenuous work outdoors breathe deeply and rapidly, allowing more air pollution to enter their lungs.  They may have difficulty breathing when air pollution levels are high, and should take more breaks.
• If you are spending more time indoors, look for an air conditioned, smoke-free environment.

Index Reading
Above 10

Did you know?

• Even healthy people may have more difficulty breathing on days when the index is very high.
• Air pollution affects everyone’s health in different ways, ranging from minor symptoms, such as throat irritation, to worsening of breathing and heart problems.  Negative health effects will increase as air pollution increases.
• Seniors, children and people with breathing and heart problems are most affected by air pollution.  Negative health effects will increase as air pollution increases
• Some types of air pollution can reach high levels even in parks and rural areas. 
• People participating in sports or strenuous work outdoors breathe deeply and rapidly, allowing more air pollution to enter their lungs.  They may have difficulty breathing when air pollution levels are high, and should take more breaks.
• If you are spending more time indoors, look for an air conditioned, smoke-free environment.