The quality of our air directly impacts our health and the natural environment, so we want our air to be as clean as possible. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks works to protect and improve air quality through legislation, targeted programs, and partnerships with other jurisdictions.
The Ministry has a network of 38 ambient (outside) air monitoring stations across the province that collect real-time air pollution data. This information is communicated to the public through Ontario's new Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and as hourly concentrations of each pollutant. The Air Quality Health Index and data collected from our monitoring stations are posted on this website every hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As part of a partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Air Quality Health Index values and forecasts will also be posted on the Environment and Climate Change Canada website. Each year, the ministry prepares an Air Quality Report to assess the state of air quality in Ontario based on the provincial Air Quality Health Index network.
Air Quality Warning (AQW) for: Sandy Lake - Pikangikum and Red Lake - Ear Falls. Updated at 1:56 am EDT, 11 July 2025. See AQW Alert Details.
Special Air Quality Statement (SAQS) for: Big Trout Lake - Sachigo Lake, Fort Severn and Pickle Lake - Wunnummin Lake. Updated at 8:40 pm EDT, 10 July 2025. See SAQS Alert Details.
Hourly AQHI reports: The AQHI is issued hourly and is a scale designed to help you understand what the quality of the air around you means to your health. It is based on the following pollutants in our air: ozone (O3), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
Real-time pollutant data: The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks reports real-time O3, PM2.5, NO2, carbon monoxide (CO), and sulphur dioxide (SO2) data in geographical, graphical and tabular formats every hour. See the newest results: current pollutant concentrations.
Air health tip: During heavy smoke conditions, everyone is at risk regardless of their age or health. The fine particles in wildfire smoke pose the main health risk.
For more air health tips see the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Health Messages.
