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Air Quality Ontario

AQHI categories and health messages

Air Quality Health Index categories, values and associated colours
Air Quality Health Index categories and values
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
+
Low risk
(1 - 3)		 Moderate risk
(4 - 6)		 High risk
(7 - 10)		 Very high risk
 
The table below provides the health messages for each category of the Air Quality Health Index for the "at risk" population and the general population.
Health risk Air Quality Health Index Health messages
At risk population* General population
Low 1 - 3 Enjoy your usual outdoor activities. Ideal air quality for outdoor activities.
Moderate 4 - 6 Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you are experiencing symptoms. No need to modify your usual outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
High 7 - 10 Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also take it easy. Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Very high Above 10 Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion. Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

* People with heart or breathing problems are at greater risk. Follow your doctor's usual advice about exercising and managing your condition.

Health messages for use during Special Air Quality Statements (SAQS)

  1. You can limit exposure to air pollution by avoiding source emissions, where possible, such as on busy roads or heavy traffic areas.
  2. Eliminate indoor air pollution sources such as tobacco smoke and where possible, limit outdoor pollutants from entering the home by replacing your furnace/central air HEPA filters every 3 months.
  3. Be air aware! Check your local weather forecasts and alerts so you know when to take extra care.
  4. People with cardiovascular disease can be particularly sensitive to air pollution. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Pollution can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital visits.
  5. People with lung diseases, such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) can be particularly sensitive to air pollution. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Pollution can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital visits.
  6. Children, including teenagers, are at a higher risk from outdoor air pollution because when outdoors they are often active. Young people are more likely to have asthma and their lungs are still developing.
  7. Older adults may be more affected by air pollution exposure, possibly because they are more likely to have pre-existing lung and cardiovascular disease.
  8. Active people of all ages who exercise or work outdoors are at increased risk to the health effects posed by air pollution. Be air aware and know the best times to be active outdoors by using the AQHI to plan your day.
  9. Be air aware by turning air conditioners to a higher temperature and turning off lights, computers and other electrical appliances when not in use.
  10. If you are taking medication or have a health condition, please pay close attention to your symptoms and take a break if necessary.
  11. Exposure to air pollution is particularly a concern for children, the elderly, and those who have underlying medical conditions such as lung or heart disease.
  12. You can help reduce outdoor air pollution by leaving the car at home and using a transportation alternative such as walking, cycling, carpooling or public transportation.
  13. Avoiding the use of gas powered equipment, such as lawnmowers, also helps reduce outdoor air pollution.
  14. Be air aware and reduce outdoor air pollution by limiting the amount of wood you burn outdoors in your fire pit and by burning only dry seasoned wood.
  15. Avoid using chemical based products in your home that can affect indoor air quality. Choose less toxic cleaners, paints, finishes and glues. Look for products labeled “VOC-free”, “zero-VOC” or “low-VOC”.

Health messages for use during Forest Fire and Smoke during Special Air Quality Statements (SAQS)

  1. Stay inside if you have breathing difficulties. Find an indoor place that’s cool and ventilated. Using an air conditioner that cools and filters air may help. If you open the windows you may let in more polluted air. If your home isn’t air-conditioned, consider going to a public place (library, shopping mall, recreation centre) that is air conditioned.
  2. If your home is not air-conditioned, be sure the house doesn't get too warm when doors and windows are closed to keep out smoke. Exposure to too much heat can also result in illness.
  3. If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitted respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH certified N95 or equivalent respirator) that does not allow air to pass through small openings between the mask and face, can help reduce your exposure to the fine particles in smoke. These fine particles generally pose the greatest risk to health. However, respirators do not reduce exposure to the gases in wildfire smoke. It is important to listen to your body and reduce or stop activities if you are experiencing symptoms.

Health messages for use during Air Quality Warnings (AQW)

  1. 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.
  2. People more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke such as seniors, pregnant women and pregnant people, people who smoke, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people involved in strenuous outdoor exercise and people with an existing illness or chronic health condition, should avoid strenuous activities outdoors.
  3. Listen to your body and if you experience symptoms, reduce or stop outdoor activities. Symptoms can include milder and more common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as serious but less common symptoms such as chest pains or severe cough. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate medical assistance.
  4. Limit time outdoors. Consider rescheduling or cancelling outdoor sports, activities and events.
  5. When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. When there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality, prioritize keeping cool. Always seek out and follow health guidance from local authorities.
  6. Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke. Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air purifier that can filter fine particles.
  7. If you must spend time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine particles in the smoke. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
  8. Check in on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke.
  9. Take care of your mental health.