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58-639: The Pollutant Standards Index ( PSI ) is a type of air quality index used in Singapore , which is a number used to indicate the level of pollutants in air. Initially PSI was based on five air pollutants, but since 1 April 2014 it has also included fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). In addition to the PSI derived by averaging data collected for the past 24 hours, Singapore also publishes 1-hr PM 2.5 concentrations are also published every hour. Besides Singapore, some other countries also use air quality indices. However,

116-432: A behavioral change to reduce the environmental footprint. This index pays particular attention to people who are sensitive to air pollution. It provides them with advice on how to protect their health during air quality levels associated with low , moderate , high and very high health risks. The AQHI provides a number from 1 to 10+ to indicate the level of health risk associated with local air quality. On occasion, when

174-858: A consistent approach is taken with air quality indexes, using a simple linear scale where 100 represents the maximum concentration standard for each pollutant, as set by the NEPM. These maximum concentration standards are: The air quality index (AQI) for an individual location is simply the highest of the air quality index values for each pollutant being monitored at that location. There are six AQI bands, with health advice for each: Everyone: Cut back or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities Everyone: Significantly cut back on outdoor physical activities Air quality in Canada has been reported for many years with provincial air quality indices (AQIs). Significantly, AQI values reflect air quality management objectives, which are based on

232-480: A day when the AQI is predicted to be elevated due to fine particle pollution, an agency or public health organization might: During a period of very poor air quality, such as an air pollution episode , when the AQI indicates that acute exposure may cause significant harm to the public health, agencies may invoke emergency plans that allow them to order major emitters (such as coal burning industries) to curtail emissions until

290-501: A higher risk because of the weakening of the heart, lungs and immune system and increased likelihood of health problems such as heart and lung disease. Exposure to air pollutants can cause a range of symptoms. People with lung or heart disease may experience increased frequency and/or severity of symptoms, and increased medication requirements. It is recommended that those susceptive should take greater precautions. Environment Canada recommends looking for outdoor air quality by checking

348-411: A local air quality current value as well as a local air quality maximums forecast for today, tonight and tomorrow and provides associated health advice. As it is now known that even low levels of air pollution can trigger discomfort for the sensitive population, the index has been developed as a continuum: The higher the number, the greater the health risk and need to take precautions. The index describes

406-424: A more current air quality situation. In 2016, the 3-hour PSI was phased out on the grounds that the 1-hour PM 2.5 reading was a better indicator of the current air quality. The PSI considers six air pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), particulate matter (PM 10 ), fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O 3 ). The concentrations of these pollutants in

464-479: A more expensive and inconvenient mechanical approach using excavators and bulldozers. In June 2013, severe haze hit Singapore , pushing the nation's PSI into Hazardous levels for the first time in its history. Presently, the highest 3-hour PSI reading on record in Singapore is 471 on 20 October 2015 at 11 pm (GMT+8). Singapore's computation of PSI and NEA's definitions of PSI ranges have been shown to correlate with

522-696: A number of countries including the United States and Singapore. Since 1999, the US EPA has replaced the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) with the Air Quality Index (AQI) to incorporate new PM 2.5 and ozone standards. Prior to 1 April 2014, Singapore published the PSI and the 1-hour PM 2.5 reading separately. This 3-hour PSI is unique to Singapore and was introduced in 1997 to provide additional air quality information which would better reflect

580-883: A number of health outcomes including all-cause mortality. For sudden cardiac deaths, every increment of 30 units in PSI correlated with 8.15% increased risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest on the same day of exposure. This risk was found to remain elevated for 1–5 days after exposure. Similar short-term associations were subsequently found for acute myocardial infarction and acute ischemic stroke in analyses of national registries. In terms of healthcare utilization, both country-wide Emergency Department visits and hospital admissions were increased per unit increase in PSI. Air quality index Different countries have their own air quality indices , corresponding to different national air quality standards. Some of these are Canada's Air Quality Health Index , Malaysia's Air Pollution Index , and Singapore's Pollutant Standards Index . Computation of

638-492: A pilot project in the British Columbia Interior in 2005 followed by Nova Scotia in 2006 and Toronto in 2007, as of 2016 it was implemented in 122 locations across Canada. The Air Quality Health Index provides a number from 1 to 10+ to indicate the level of health risk associated with local air quality. Occasionally, when the amount of air pollution is abnormally high, the number may exceed 10. The AQHI provides

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696-467: Is a number on a scale from 0 to 100, where a low value means good air quality and a high value means extremely poor air quality. The index is defined in both hourly and daily versions, and separately near roads (a "roadside" or "traffic" index) or away from roads (a "background" index). As of 2012 , the CAQI had two mandatory components for the roadside index, NO 2 and PM 10 , and three mandatory components for

754-697: Is adjusted periodically to reflect these changes. The air quality index is a piecewise linear function of the pollutant concentration. At the boundary between AQI categories, there is a discontinuous jump of one AQI unit. To convert from concentration to AQI this equation is used: I = I h i g h − I l o w C h i g h − C l o w ( C − C l o w ) + I l o w {\displaystyle I={\frac {I_{high}-I_{low}}{C_{high}-C_{low}}}(C-C_{low})+I_{low}} (If multiple pollutants are measured,

812-626: Is aimed towards two populations: 1. The "general" population; and 2. The "at-risk" populations. The latter consists of children, the elderly and people with existing respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, such as those with asthma , and people suffering from diabetes , heart disease or lung disease . Children are more vulnerable to air pollution: they have less-developed respiratory and defense systems. Because of their size, they inhale more air per kilogram of body weight than adults. Their elevated metabolic rate and young defense systems make them more susceptible to air pollution. Seniors are also at

870-406: Is also defined, in which different pollutant sub-indices are separately normalised to a value typically near unity. For example, the yearly averages of NO 2 , PM 10 and PM 2.5 are divided by 40 μg/m , 40 μg/m and 20 μg/m , respectively. The overall background or traffic YACAQI for a city is the arithmetic mean of a defined subset of these sub-indices. The National Air Quality Index (NAQI)

928-523: Is assigned a descriptor, a color code, and a standardized public health advisory. The AQI can increase due to an increase of air emissions. For example, during rush hour traffic or when there is an upwind forest fire or from a lack of dilution of air pollutants. Stagnant air , often caused by an anticyclone , temperature inversion , or low wind speeds lets air pollution remain in a local area, leading to high concentrations of pollutants, chemical reactions between air contaminants and hazy conditions. On

986-457: Is based on a three-hour average. In order to meet these needs, the individual pollutant concentrations are compared to Alberta's Ambient Air Quality Objectives (AAQOs). The national AQHI is used most of the time; however, if hourly air pollutant concentrations are higher than Alberta's AAQOs, the AQHI value is replaced (overridden) with the appropriate "High" or "Very High" risk value. This can occur for

1044-408: Is based on three-hour average concentrations of ground-level ozone (O 3 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). O 3 and NO 2 are measured in parts per billion (ppb) while PM2.5 is measured in micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m ). The AQHI is calculated on a community basis (each community may have one or more monitoring stations). First, the average concentration of

1102-477: Is best to exercise or work outdoor. The best way for someone to use the AQHI is to regularly check the current index value, to pay attention to personal symptoms and self-calibrate to the reported current AQHI value. For example, if symptoms are experienced when the index is a 6, then precaution should be taken when the index is at a 6 or higher by following the corresponding health messages. Then, when an individual knows what number triggers health symptoms, to get in

1160-417: Is better. Sensitive groups: Remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed an Air Quality Index that is used to report air quality. This AQI is divided into six categories indicating increasing levels of health concern. The AQI is based on the five "criteria" pollutants regulated under

1218-492: Is reported as a number on a scale of 0 to 500. The index figures enable the public to determine whether the air pollution levels in a particular location are good, unhealthy, hazardous or worse. The following PSI table is grouped by index values and descriptors, explaining the effects of the levels, according to Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA). Note: This chart reflects the guidelines used in Singapore and may differ from other countries. Health advisories are based on

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1276-554: Is responsible for measuring the level of air pollution in China . As of January 1, 2013, MEP monitors daily pollution level in 163 of its major cities. The AQI level is based on the level of six atmospheric pollutants, namely sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), suspended particulates smaller than 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM 10 ), suspended particulates smaller than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM 2.5 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O 3 ) measured at

1334-430: Is the final AQI score. Thus an AQI of 300 does not mean twice the pollution of AQI at 150, nor does it mean the air is twice as harmful. The concentration of a pollutant when its IAQI is 100 does not equal twice its concentration when its IAQI is 50, nor does it mean the pollutant is twice as harmful. While an AQI of 50 from day 1 to 182 and AQI of 100 from day 183 to 365 does provide an annual average of 75, it does not mean

1392-466: Is then rounded to the nearest whole number. Alberta has modified AQHI reporting to better suit the needs of the Province. Because of Alberta's energy based economy other pollutants are also considered when reporting the AQHI. Alberta also has rapidly changing air quality conditions quite often (for example during wildfire season) so, Alberta's AQHI needs to be more responsive than the national AQHI, which

1450-682: The Clean Air Act : ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. The EPA has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for each of these pollutants in order to protect public health. An AQI value of 100 generally corresponds to the level of the NAAQS for the pollutant. The Clean Air Act (USA) (1990) requires the EPA to review its National Ambient Air Quality Standards every five years to reflect evolving health effects information. The Air Quality Index

1508-644: The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP). This index has ten points, which are further grouped into four bands: low, moderate, high and very high. Each of the bands comes with advice for at-risk groups and the general population. The index is based on the concentrations of five pollutants. The index is calculated from the concentrations of the following pollutants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur ioxide, PM2.5 and PM10. The breakpoints between index values are defined for each pollutant separately and

1566-622: The Environmental Protection Department , is measured on a scale of 1 to 10+ and considers four air pollutants: ozone; nitrogen dioxide; sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (including PM10 and PM2.5). For any given hour the AQHI is calculated from the sum of the percentage excess risk of daily hospital admissions attributable to the 3-hour moving average concentrations of these four pollutants. The AQHIs are grouped into five AQHI health risk categories with health advice provided: China's Ministry of Environmental Protection ( MEP )

1624-515: The European Air Quality Index (EAQI) and started encouraging its use on websites and for other ways of informing the public about air quality. As of 2012 , the EU -supported project CiteairII argued that the CAQI had been evaluated on a "large set" of data, and described the CAQI's motivation and definition. CiteairII stated that having an air quality index that would be easy to present to

1682-673: The Pollutant Standards Index to report on its air quality, with details of the calculation similar but not identical to those used in Malaysia and Hong Kong. The PSI chart below is grouped by index values and descriptors, according to the National Environment Agency . The Ministry of Environment of South Korea uses the Comprehensive Air-quality Index (CAI) to describe the ambient air quality based on

1740-573: The environmental footprint . This index pays particular attention to people who are sensitive to air pollution. It provides them with advice on how to protect their health during air quality levels associated with low, moderate, high and very high health risks. Air quality in Canada has historically been reported by the US Air Quality Index in various provinces. Significantly, AQI values reflect air quality management objectives, which are based on

1798-966: The 3 hour "community average" for each parameter is calculated from the 3 hour substance averages at the available stations. If no stations are available for a parameter, that parameter is set to "Not Available". This part of the process results in three community parameter averages. Third, if all three community parameter averages are available, a community AQHI is calculated. The formula is: A Q H I = ( 10 10.4 ) × 100 × [ ( e 0.000537 × O 3 − 1 ) + ( e 0.000871 × N O 2 − 1 ) + ( e 0.000487 × P M 2.5 − 1 ) ] {\displaystyle AQHI=({\frac {10}{10.4}})\times 100\times [(e^{0.000537\times O_{3}}-1)+(e^{0.000871\times NO_{2}}-1)+(e^{0.000487\times PM_{2.5}}-1)]} The result

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1856-447: The AQHI before heading off to work or play as well as to use the forecasts to plan activities, whether over the next hour or the next day. Seniors, parents, those with asthma, and people suffering from diabetes, heart or lung disease, can use the AQHI to assess the immediate risk air pollution poses on their health and take steps to lessen that risk. The AQHI is also recommended for healthy, fit and active people to consult to decide when it

1914-437: The AQHI program would not be possible without the commitment and support of the provinces, municipalities and NGOs. From air quality monitoring to health risk communication and community engagement, local partners are responsible for the vast majority of work related to AQHI implementation. The AQHI has been rolled out across Canada and has replaced the AQI as the public face of air quality information. Originally launched as

1972-464: The AQHI, Health Canada's original analysis of health effects included five major air pollutants: airborne particulate matter, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), as well as sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ), and carbon monoxide (CO). The latter two pollutants provided little information in predicting health effects and were removed from the AQHI formulation. The AQHI does not measure the effects of odour, pollen , dust, heat or humidity. The national AQHI

2030-501: The AQI requires an air pollutant concentration over a specified averaging period, obtained from an air monitor or model . Taken together, concentration and time represent the dose of the air pollutant. Health effects corresponding to a given dose are established by epidemiological research. Air pollutants vary in potency, and the function used to convert from air pollutant concentration to AQI varies by pollutant. Its air quality index values are typically grouped into ranges. Each range

2088-467: The US EPA's guidelines. Only the 24-hour PSI value and not the 3-hour PSI value is correlated to the health effects outlined in NEA's advisories. Singapore has been regularly hit by smoke haze from forest fires in nearby Sumatra , Indonesia , brought over by wind. These forest fires have been attributed to the slash-and-burn method favoured by several large plantation owners to clear their land, as opposed to

2146-435: The ambient air are measured via a network of air monitoring stations located around Singapore. A sub-index value is computed for each pollutant based on the pollutant's ambient air concentration. The highest sub-index value is then taken as the PSI value. In other words, the PSI is determined by the pollutant with the most significant concentration. During haze episodes, PM 2.5 is the most significant pollutant. The PSI

2204-527: The amount of air pollution is abnormally high, the number may exceed 10. The AQHI provides a local air quality current value as well as a local air quality maximums forecast for today, tonight, and tomorrow, and provides associated health advice. On December 30, 2013, Hong Kong replaced the Air Pollution Index with a new index called the Air Quality Health Index . This index, reported by

2262-641: The background index, NO 2 , PM 10 and O 3 . It also included optional pollutants PM 2.5 , CO and SO 2 . A "sub-index" is calculated for each of the mandatory (and optional if available) components. The CAQI is defined as the sub-index that represents the worst quality among those components. Some of the key pollutant concentrations in μg/m for the hourly background index, the corresponding sub-indices, and five CAQI ranges and verbal descriptions are as follows. Frequently updated CAQI values and maps are shown on www.airqualitynow.eu and other websites. A separate Year Average Common Air Quality Index (YACAQI)

2320-636: The calculated AQI is the highest value calculated from the above equation applied for each pollutant.) where: The EPA's table of breakpoints is: 8-hr 1-hr Air Quality Health Index (Canada) The Air Quality Health Index ( AQHI ) is a scale designed in Canada to help understand the impact of air quality on health. It is a health protection tool used to make decisions to reduce short-term exposure to air pollution by adjusting activity levels during increased levels of air pollution. The Air Quality Health Index also provides advice on how to improve air quality by proposing behavioral change to reduce

2378-516: The calculations used to derive their air quality indices may differ. Different countries also use different names for their indices such as Air Quality Health Index, Air Pollution Index and Pollutant Standards Index. The PSI is based on a scale devised by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide a way for broadcasts and newspapers to report air quality on a daily basis. The PSI has been used in

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2436-636: The categories as shown below. The N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain in central Seoul, South Korea , is illuminated in blue, from sunset to 23:00 and 22:00 in winter, on days where the air quality in Seoul is 45 or less. During the spring of 2012, the Tower was lit up for 52 days, which is four days more than in 2011. The most commonly used air quality index in the UK is the Daily Air Quality Index recommended by

2494-1011: The country having more than 342 monitoring stations. An Expert Group comprising medical professionals, air quality experts, academia, advocacy groups, and SPCBs was constituted and a technical study was awarded to IIT Kanpur . IIT Kanpur and the Expert Group recommended an AQI scheme in 2014. While the earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators, the new index measures eight parameters. The continuous monitoring systems that provide data on near real-time basis are installed in New Delhi, Mumbai , Pune , Kolkata and Ahmedabad . There are six NAQI categories, namely Good , Satisfactory , Moderate , Poor , Very Poor and Severe . The proposed NAQI will consider eight pollutants PM 10 , PM 2.5 , NO 2 , SO 2 , CO, O 3 , NH 3 , and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed. Based on

2552-567: The following pollutants (when they exceed the noted concentrations): In Alberta, special community messaging is used when the level of specific pollutants is higher than specified odour or visibility thresholds but the AQHI is rated as "Low" or "Moderate" risk. This messaging is used for the following pollutants (when they exceed the noted concentrations): An example of this special odour/visibility messaging can be: "While you may detect an odour or change in visibility or clarity, enjoy your outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms." The AQHI

2610-634: The general public was a major motivation, leaving aside the more complex question of a health-based index, which would require, for example, effects of combined levels of different pollutants. The main aim of the CAQI was to have an index that would encourage wide comparison across the EU, without replacing local indices. CiteairII stated that the "main goal of the CAQI is not to warn people for possible adverse health effects of poor air quality but to attract their attention to urban air pollution and its main source (traffic) and help them decrease their exposure." The CAQI

2668-470: The hazardous conditions abate. Most air contaminants do not have an associated AQI. Many countries monitor ground-level ozone , particulates , sulfur dioxide , carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide , and calculate air quality indices for these pollutants. The definition of the AQI in a particular nation reflects the discourse surrounding the development of national air quality standards in that nation. A website allowing government agencies anywhere in

2726-462: The health risks of air pollution. The index aims to help the public easily understand the air quality and protect people's health. The CAI is on a scale from 0 to 500, which is divided into six categories. The higher the CAI value, the greater the level of air pollution. Of values of the five air pollutants, the highest is the CAI value. The index also has associated health effects and a colour representation of

2784-613: The identified eight pollutants are as follows: According to Japan Weather Association , Japan uses a different scale to measure the air quality index. The air quality in Mexico City is reported in IMECAs. The IMECA is calculated using the measurements of average times of the chemicals ozone (O 3 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), carbon monoxide (CO), particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5 ), and particles smaller than 10 micrometers (PM 10 ). Singapore uses

2842-574: The level of health risk associated with this number as 'low', 'moderate', 'high' or 'very high', and suggests steps that can be taken to reduce exposure. The formulation of the national AQHI is based on the observed relationship of nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), ground-level ozone (O 3 ) and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) with mortality from an analysis of several Canadian cities. Significantly, all three of these pollutants can pose health risks, even at low levels of exposure, especially among those with pre-existing health problems. When developing

2900-429: The lowest achievable emissions rate, and not exclusively concern for human health. The AQHI was created with a different goal - to report on the specific health risks posed by air pollution. As such, the AQHI represents a paradigm shift in communicating air quality information to the public. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a federal program jointly coordinated by Health Canada and Environment Canada . However,

2958-464: The lowest achievable emissions rate, rather than exclusive concern for human health. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale designed to help understand the impact of air quality on health. It is a health protection tool used to make decisions to reduce short-term exposure to air pollution by adjusting activity levels during increased levels of air pollution. The Air Quality Health Index also provides advice on how to improve air quality by proposing

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3016-463: The measured ambient concentrations, corresponding standards and likely health impact, a sub-index is calculated for each of these pollutants. The worst sub-index reflects overall NAQI. Likely health impacts for different NAQI categories and pollutants have also been suggested, with primary inputs from the medical experts in the group. The NAQI values and corresponding ambient concentrations (health breakpoints) as well as associated likely health impacts for

3074-465: The monitoring stations throughout each city. An individual score (Individual Air Quality Index, IAQI) is calculated using breakpoint concentrations below, and using same piecewise linear function to calculate intermediate values as the US AQI scale. and The final AQI value can be calculated either per hour or per 24 hours and is the max of these six scores. The score for each pollutant is non-linear, as

3132-413: The overall index is defined as the maximum value of the index. Different averaging periods are used for different pollutants. Everyone else: It's a good day to be active outside. Everyone else: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during all outdoor activities. Everyone else: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling to a time when air quality

3190-552: The pollution is acceptable even if the benchmark of 100 is deemed safe. Because the benchmark is a 24-hour target, and the annual average must match the annual target, it is entirely possible to have safe air every day of the year but still fail the annual pollution benchmark. The Common Air Quality Index (CAQI) is an air quality index used in Europe since 2006. In November 2017, the European Environment Agency announced

3248-410: The three substances (O 3 , NO 2 , PM2.5) is calculated at each station within a community for the 3 preceding hours. This is considered valid only if at least 2 out of 3 hours are available at the station. If more than 1 of the preceding 3 hours is missing the station average is set to "Not Available". This part of the process results in three "station parameter averages" for each station. Second,

3306-643: The world to submit their real-time air monitoring data for display using a common definition of the air quality index has recently become available. Each of the states and territories of Australia is responsible for monitoring air quality and publishing data in accordance with the National Environment Protection (Ambient Air Quality) Measure (NEPM) standards. Each state and territory publishes air quality data for individual monitoring locations, and most states and territories publish air quality indexes for each monitoring location. Across Australia,

3364-729: Was launched in New Delhi on September 17, 2014, under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan . The highest AQI in India was recorded in New Delhi on 18th November 2024 with it being 1,081 and the concentration of PM2.5 - particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or less in diameter that can be carried into lungs, causing deadly diseases and cardiac issues. Expected to soar even higher later or next year. The Central Pollution Control Board along with State Pollution Control Boards has been operating National Air Monitoring Program (NAMP) covering 240 cities of

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