Air Quality Health Index

Image of sun above mountains and clouds. Photo: Terri Lang

Air pollutants can pose a serious health risk to people with chronic lung conditions, and those that are exposed to it for extended periods of time. To reduce this risk Environment Canada, in partnership with the provinces and municipalities, has developed the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI).

The AQHI was designed to help make it easier for Canadians to protect their health, by helping them limit short-term exposure to air pollution, and adjust their outdoor activity levels on bad air quality days. At a number of locations across the country, the index provides, on a scale of one to 10, the daily air quality levels. The higher the number on the scale, the greater the potential health risk.

AQHI values are forecast twice daily, providing maximum AQHI values over the next two days. There are also other related health messages that accompany the forecasts. To help you protect yourself and your family from poor air quality, check the daily AQHI forecast for your region at www.airhealth.ca.