Top of PageHow is the AQHI calculated?
The AQHI is designed as a guide to the relative risk presented by common air pollutants which are known to harm human health. Three specific pollutants have been chosen as indicators of the overall mixture: • Ground-level Ozone (O3), is formed by photo-chemical reactions in the atmosphere. It can be a major component of smog during the summer, especially during hot sunny weather, but is generally low in the wintertime. Ozone can be transported long distances within a polluted air mass and can be responsible for large regional air pollution episodes. • Particulate Matter, is a mixture of tiny airborne particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs . These particles can either be emitted directly by vehicles, industrial facilities or natural sources like forest fires, or formed indirectly as a result of chemical reactions among other pollutants. Particulate matter can reflect both local air pollution sources or widespread air pollution episodes. • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), is released b
