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What is an air quality action day?
Meterollogists at the Tennessee Division of Air Pollution Control forecast ozone levlels during the
ozone seadon (March - October) and fine particulate (PM 2.5) levels year round. Both forecasts are compared
to the EPA's Air Quality Index. If either of the pollutants is forecast as Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups),
an Air Quality Action Day is declared.
Air Quality Index
| Air Quality |
AQI Values |
Protect Your Health |
| Good |
0 - 50 |
No health impacts are expected when air quality
is in this range. |
| Moderate |
51-100 |
Unusually sensitive people should consider
limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
101-150 |
Active children and adults, and people with
respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. |
| Unhealthy |
151-200 |
Active children and adults, and people with
respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit
prolonged outdoor exertion. |
| Very Unhealthy (Alert) |
201-300 |
Active children and adults, and people with
respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged
outdoor exertion. |
Here is a handly link to and EPA document describing the AQI and effects
of air pollutants on the human body.
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/health-prof/EPA_poster-final_lo-res.pdf
How will you know if an air quality action
day has been called?
The best way is to sign up for EPA's Enviroflash system http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.enviroflash. The local media may will include the forecast as part of their evening news the day before air pollution levels are
predicted to be high. The Kingsport Times News also announces the action days on the front page.
The Ozone Action Partneship will also send an
email to our mailing list on action days. You can sign up for this list by sending an email to Gary Mayes of the Sullivan
County Health Department at gmayes@sullivanhealth.org. If your employer is an active partner in the Ozone Action Partnership, you may receive word from your management. |
