Understanding the Color Codes: Air Quality Index and Forest Fire Smoke Transit in North America

The transit of smoke from the forest fires in Canada caused several cities from New York to Raleigh in North Carolina to issue a series of notices that led the community to learn a series of color codes ranging from green to maroon.

Where do these codes come from?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of monitoring the situation, and it does so with the Air Quality Index or AQI, with a scale that goes from 0 to 500, where the higher the AQI, the more polluted it is. the air.

EPA calculates the AQI by taking into account five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particulate pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

What do the color codes mean?

Verde

Concern Levels: Bueno
Valor AQI: 0 a 50
Air quality is considered satisfactory and air pollution presents little or no risk.

Yellow

Concern Levels: Moderate
Valor AQI: 51 a 100
Air quality is acceptable, but for some pollutants there may be moderate concern for the health of a very small group of people who are exceptionally sensitive to air pollution.

Orange

Concern Levels: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Valor AQI: 101 a 150
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. It probably won’t affect people in general.

Rojo

Concern Levels: unhealthy
Valor AQI: 151 a 200
Everyone can start to experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.

Purple

Concern Levels: very unsanitary
Valor AQI: 201 a 300
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The chances are greater that the entire population is affected.

Garnet

Concern Levels: Dangerous
Valor AQI: 301 and above
Health alert: everyone can experience more serious health effects.

These are the five main air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act. EPA has established national air quality standards for the protection of human health for each of these pollutants:

ground level ozone
particle pollution
carbon monoxide
sulfur dioxide
nitrogen dioxide

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The smoke that came from the forest fires in Canada made New York the most polluted city in the world.

Credit: alberto rodriguez

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The City authorities maintained the environmental alert and asked people not to go out if it is not necessary.

Credit: Yuki Iwamura/AP

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Although the smoke was observed since Tuesday, it was this Wednesday that the presence in the tri-state area intensified.

Credit: Seth Wenig/AP

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Doctor Joseph Varón explained that people with a lung disease may be the most affected, but everyone can perceive symptoms such as discomfort in the eyes and throat.

Credit: J.David Ake/AP

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The streets of the City shined with an orange color and a constant smell of smoke.

Credit: Joaquin Torres

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The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a health advisory and is maintaining an alert for poor air quality through the evening of Thursday, June 8.

Credit: Joaquin Torres

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The experts also recommended going outside wearing a mask.

Credit: Yuki Iwamura/AP

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They also asked to keep the windows closed, use an air purifier if you have one, not go out for a walk with your pets, not ride a bike or go for a run or exercise outdoors.

Credit: Patrick Sison/AP

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