Posted In: Environment | Health
Fires are once again raging in California and air quality in one of the most populated metropolitan areas in the country (the San Francisco Bay Area) is quite poor. This map show current air quality in the Bay Area. For more information see the EPA’s Air Quality website.
AQI colors
EPA has assigned a specific color to each AQI category to make it easier for people to understand quickly whether air pollution is reaching unhealthy levels in their communities. For example, the color orange means that conditions are "unhealthy for sensitive groups," while red means that conditions may be "unhealthy for everyone," and so on.
Air Quality Index
Levels of Health Concern |
Numerical
Value |
Meaning |
| Good |
0 to 50 |
Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk. |
| Moderate |
51 to 100 |
Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
101 to 150 |
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. |
| Unhealthy |
151 to 200 |
Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
| Very Unhealthy |
201 to 300 |
Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects. |
| Hazardous |
301 to 500 |
Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. |
For more information and additional maps see the EPA’s Air Quality website.
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