Abstract
Air pollution can cause both short and long term impacts on human health. A new tool, the Air Quality Health Index, has been developed in Canada to provide the public with a real time indication of short term health risks associated with air pollution concentrations. The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) builds upon existing indices of air pollution but differs by being based on a rigorous statistical link between mortality and air quality. The development of the AQHI in Canada was aided by recent advancements in health effects research, pollutant monitoring and reporting, weather and air quality prediction systems, efficient dissemination processes and political support. More heavily urbanized areas generally experience higher AQHI values than smaller communities.
The AQHI is a function of three common air pollutants: ozone, nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 (Particulate matter of maximum diameters 10 and 2.5 microns (millionths of a metre) respectively). It normally varies from 1 to 10, though it can occasionally rise above 10 during severe pollution episodes, such as thick wildfire smoke. The AQHI and its predicted maximum values for the next 24–36 h are provided to the public through various websites, with specific health advice provided for each of four AQHI health risk categories. The vulnerable population receives more cautious health advice than the general public. Promotion campaigns are used to explain the AQHI and encourage its use.
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Keywords
- Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
- Severe Pollution Episodes
- Predicted Maximum Value
- Real-time Indicator
- Health Effects Research
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Chapter 18, The Canadian Air Quality Health Index
Erratum to: E. Taylor, A. McMillan (eds.), Air Quality Management, DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-7557-2_18,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
DOI. 10.1007/978-94-007-7557-2_18
Initially, this chapter was published with the title Air Quality Management: Canadian Perspectives on a Global Issue both in the Table of Contents as well as on the Chapter opening page.
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DOI. 10.1007/978-94-007-7557-2_18
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Taylor, E. (2014). ERRATUM. In: Taylor, E., McMillan, A. (eds) Air Quality Management. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7557-2_21
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7557-2_21
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