How do air quality levels estimate health risk?

As we experience poorer outdoor air quality each day, it’s important to understand that there is a variation between air quality levels. Therefore, the estimated health risk is just that, an estimate. For example, the AQI (Air Quality Index), which is a product of the EPA’s AirNow program, (https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/) only factors in Ozone and PM 2.5, not additional pollutants that may impact your health.

So, let’s start with the Good. This is defined as air quality is satisfactory. I’m not sure what the difference is between “satisfactory” v. “acceptable” at the Moderate level. But, at this level, air pollution is estimated to pose little or no risk. I would propose that any level of air pollution exposure poses some risk to health. No risk is an absolute that is neither justified nor warranted. Are you experiencing health impacts at this level? How do you know?

Let us continue with the Moderate level. At this level, the index defines air quality as “acceptable.”  However, it is qualified to say that there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are “unusually” sensitive to air pollution. But, how would you know if you are “unusually” sensitive to air pollution unless you track your experience of symptoms or how you feel in the context of the environmental conditions you experience?

Now for Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Sensitive groups refer to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD. At this level, ‘supposedly’ the general public is less likely to be affected, but without tracking acute symptoms or overall wellness how are we to know?

For Unhealthy, let us go back to those Sensitive Groups first. At this level, people in the Sensitive Groups may experience more serious health effects, such as acute symptoms or respiratory distress. The general public may experience health effects, but we would not know because this is not being tracked.

Now, let us get to the Very Unhealthy level. This warrants a health alert: the risk of health effects is increased for everyone. These health effects could cause acute symptoms or diminished health because of continued exposure.

And we end with ‘Hazardous,’ which was considered a rare occurrence only a few years ago. This level has been seen more frequently than ever before with the prevalence of wildfires and the resultant wildfire smoke. This level warrants identification of the presence of emergency conditions that threaten the health of everyone exposed.

The air quality levels inform the population level of potential health risk. But your sensitivity to pollutants, allergens, and weather conditions, and their convergence, is personal. The only way to know your individual sensitivity is to track symptoms and the impacts on your overall wellness with the environmental conditions that you experience. 

DailyBreath is the only app that helps you pinpoint the environmental exposures that impact your health personally. You may use this information to determine your personal sensitivity over time, driving a personalized environmental health risk index score each day. Based on your score, the app will provide recommendations on how to manage your exposure. Download it today! Android or iOS.