Colors of Air: Reading Air Quality Index

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a daily report on how clean or polluted the air is in a designated area. In the summer, the higher temperatures create more ground-level ozone because it is formed with a combination of heat and sunlight. Increased ground-level ozone and particulate matter makes it difficult for some population groups to breathe. Below is the chart used to read and understand AQI values and corresponding colors.

Courtesy of http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi

The AQI ranks air quality with colors from green to purple and a corresponding score 0 to 500, with zero meaning no risk and 500 being the most hazardous.

Here's what the colors signify:

Green (0-50):

Air quality conditions for that day are good and that all groups can breathe easy outside.

Yellow (51-100):

Health concerns for air quality are moderate, and that sensitive groups should limit their outdoors exertion.

Orange (101-150)

Air is unhealthy and that sensitive groups, such as those with lung disease or heart conditions, should stay indoors. Children are also at risk for increased particles in the air.

Red (151-200)

All population groups may experience ill effects from the pollution, and the effects are more severe for sensitive groups.

Purple and Maroon (201-500)

Purple and maroon scores indicate that the air is very unhealthy or could be hazardous to the city’s health.

The AQI is a serious matter, and alerts should not be ignored. When spending time outdoors, be aware of the air quality score in your area and plan your day appropriately.

Make six SIMPLE adjustments to your driving habits to improve Tennessee’s air quality and reduce air pollution.

Find more on the Air Quality Index at AirNow.gov.